Long traffic jams expected this evening due to rain, Sinterklaas celebrations
Rush hour is going to be intense on Thursday evening due to a combination of rain, Pakjesavond, and commuter traffic, Rijkswaterstaat and the ANWB expect. This evening’s Sinterklaas celebrations will be soaking wet, with an increasingly strong wind.
Even typical Thursdays have busy rush hours because it is an in-office day for many hybrid-workers. Pakjesavond, the evening that Sinterklaas brings gifts and treats to children, will mainly result in rush hour starting earlier as commuters rush home for the celebrations. “Probably around 3:00 p.m., while the rush hour normally peaks between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.,” a spokesperson for Rijkswaterstaat told NU.nl.
The expected rain will likely also cause more traffic jams. “It’s a combination of factors,” the Rijkswaterstaat spokesperson said. “More people are on the road and because of the rain, they adjust their driving style. They drive slower, which causes more traffic jams. Especially when more people take to the road at the same time.”
Rush hour on the trains will likely also start earlier than usual, NS expects.
Sinterklaas better wear his raincoat tonight, according to Weeronline. Rain will start falling in the west this morning and spread to the rest of the country. There may be some dry spells in the afternoon, but the showers will be back by the time evening arrives. Afternoon temperatures will climb to between 5 and 9 degrees, with a moderate to strong southwesterly wind. The west coastal area may see gusts up to 80 kilometers per hour.
