Cold, snowy week ahead in the Netherlands, but Elfstedentocht remains out of reach

The Netherlands faces a cold and unsettled week, with snow inland, mixed rain and wet snow along the coast, and light frost at night, meteorologists at weeronline say. More winter showers are also expected Sunday across central and northern regions, with occasional thunderstorms and temperatures between 1 and 4 degrees.

The south will see mostly dry conditions and some sun, while inland areas may experience snow accumulation. A moderate westerly wind, stronger along the coast, will make it feel colder. "There is a risk of slippery roads due to freezing wet surfaces and, inland, snow showers," forecasters warned.

Monday and Tuesday will bring renewed snow and mixed precipitation, especially inland, with temperatures near freezing. Wednesday could see several centimeters of snow inland and wet snow along the west coast. Nights will remain frosty, with temperatures dropping as low as -7 degrees inland.

The cold comes as the Netherlands marks 29 years since the last Elfstedentocht, held on January 4, 1997. "The youngest generations have never experienced Elfstedentocht fever, and older enthusiasts have waited longer than ever," experts say. The waiting period has now reached 10,592 days, surpassing the previous record of 8,070 days between 1963 and 1985.

Despite the cold, the legendary skating tour is unlikely this winter. "Currently, temperatures hover around freezing during the day and light to moderate frost at night, forming about four centimeters of ice," a meteorologist said. "Snow showers regularly cover the country, and snow on the ice insulates it, halting growth."

Safe skating requires ice at least 15 centimeters thick along the 200-kilometer route, which demands weeks of consistent cold without snow. "Despite relatively cold weather, the chance of an Elfstedentocht remains very small," experts said.

Climate change further reduces the odds. Arctic warming has made extreme cold less frequent in the Netherlands, dropping the likelihood of sufficient ice to 8 percent this winter and potentially 1 percent by 2050. Researchers note that disruptions to the Gulf Stream could bring colder winters, which might make a future Elfstedentocht possible.