The Netherlands has been left reeling from a week-long winter cold snap that has brought chaos and disruption to daily life. The country's lack of experience with prolonged snowfall has led to widespread cancellations, including over 2,000 flights, as well as gridlocked roads and railways.
For many Dutch people, the sudden arrival of snow is a shock, coming as it does after years of warmer winters. Climate experts say that temperatures have been trending downwards, making extreme weather events like this all too common. The Netherlands has never been a country with regular snowfall, so its citizens are struggling to cope.
The situation is not just limited to the roads and skies; buildings are also being affected, with partial collapses reported in some areas. Cyclists are particularly frustrated, as bike lanes seem to be better maintained than the roads themselves.
Transport experts say that the lack of investment in winter contingency measures has left the country exposed. Winter tires were rarely used this year, and the national airline had to rush a shipment of de-icing fluid from Germany to address the shortage.
The economic cost of these disruptions is still to be calculated, but climate scientists are warning that the damage is piling up. Hylke de Vries says that in years to come we can expect more frequent and severe cold snaps like this, making it ever harder for Dutch people to cope with winter.
Meredith Glaser, head of the Urban Cycling Institute, is calling for prioritisation of active mobility infrastructure, including bike lanes and roads. "Snow doesn't necessarily stop cyclists," she says, but poor maintenance does. As a result, the city needs to make sure that main routes are safe and clear.
Despite the chaos, some people like Fonger Ypma, founder of an Arctic ice project, are determined to keep cycling to work - no matter what the weather brings. "It fades away quickly if the snow doesn't occur again," he says, but for now, he's part of a stubborn generation that refuses to be deterred by a little winter weather.
For many Dutch people, the sudden arrival of snow is a shock, coming as it does after years of warmer winters. Climate experts say that temperatures have been trending downwards, making extreme weather events like this all too common. The Netherlands has never been a country with regular snowfall, so its citizens are struggling to cope.
The situation is not just limited to the roads and skies; buildings are also being affected, with partial collapses reported in some areas. Cyclists are particularly frustrated, as bike lanes seem to be better maintained than the roads themselves.
Transport experts say that the lack of investment in winter contingency measures has left the country exposed. Winter tires were rarely used this year, and the national airline had to rush a shipment of de-icing fluid from Germany to address the shortage.
The economic cost of these disruptions is still to be calculated, but climate scientists are warning that the damage is piling up. Hylke de Vries says that in years to come we can expect more frequent and severe cold snaps like this, making it ever harder for Dutch people to cope with winter.
Meredith Glaser, head of the Urban Cycling Institute, is calling for prioritisation of active mobility infrastructure, including bike lanes and roads. "Snow doesn't necessarily stop cyclists," she says, but poor maintenance does. As a result, the city needs to make sure that main routes are safe and clear.
Despite the chaos, some people like Fonger Ypma, founder of an Arctic ice project, are determined to keep cycling to work - no matter what the weather brings. "It fades away quickly if the snow doesn't occur again," he says, but for now, he's part of a stubborn generation that refuses to be deterred by a little winter weather.
. I've lived through my fair share of harsh winters and can attest that it's not just the snow that's the problem, but also how prepared we are (or aren't) to deal with it. Invest in winter contingency measures like de-icing fluid and proper road maintenance, and you'll be a lot less stressed when it hits - 30°C one day and minus 5°C the next is not exactly uncommon where I live 
! I live in Amsterdam and it took me like 3 hours just to get to work yesterday 
. And have you seen the state of the roads? It's like they're not even designed for snow 
. I'm not surprised by the shortage of de-icing fluid either - it just goes to show how unprepared we are for extreme weather. And what about all those people who can't afford new tires or snow gear? 
It's crazy that climate experts are saying this is going to happen more often in the future... let's hope we take some proactive steps before then! 
I think it's overblown drama about a bit of snow! I mean, come on, 2,000 flights cancelled? That's just good old-fashioned Dutch luck 
. And climate experts saying that temperatures have been trending downwards for years now? That's just confirmation bias 
. The fact is, the Netherlands isn't exactly built for snow, so it's not like they should be expecting a winter wonderland every year 
I think we're making a big deal out of nothing. And by the way, those cyclists who are so determined to ride in the snow? They need to get their priorities straight – safety over style! 
flights got cancelled, roads are gridlocked, buildings even started collapsing 
and cyclers r just so frustrated cuz bike lanes r better maintained than roads themselves 
climate scientists r saying its gonna happen more often & more severe cuz of climate change 
Anyway, I think it's a great idea that people are speaking out about the importance of maintaining their infrastructure, especially bike lanes 
. It's all about prioritizing and taking care of each other, you know? And those cyclists who refused to give up on riding their bikes in the snow? 
I love their spirit! Maybe we can learn from them and be more resilient as a community 
. It's like they're not even prepared for winter at all. Climate change is real, guys, and it's affecting everyone. We need to be more proactive about investing in infrastructure that can handle extreme weather conditions 
. Just hope they get back on track soon (pun intended) 
.
THEY DIDNT GET TO ENJOY ANY WINTER WONDERLAND VIBES BECAUSE OF THIS COLD SNAP 
I MEAN, CLIMATE EXPERTS ARE TELLING US THAT EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS ARE GETTING MORE COMMON, SO IT'S TIME FOR US ALL TO GET ON BOARD WITH BEING PREPARED 
. And now we're hearing about 2,000 flights getting cancelled? That's just ridiculous! It's like, what happened to all that planning? Winter tires were basically non-existent this year and now the whole country is paying for it