Evening commuters: Expect snow & ice to cause major delays; Schiphol operations restart
The Netherlands is set for another rush hour with winter weather traffic disruptions as snow and icy conditions continue to affect roads during rush hour, Rijkswaterstaat warns. The infrastructure agency said earlier in the day that Monday morning's rush hour was the third-worst since 2020, and drivers should expect delays and exercise extra caution in the afternoon, too. Meanwhile, ground operations restarted at Schiphol Airport after snowy conditions prompted air traffic controllers to forbid take-offs and landings there for several hours.
Traffic is expected to start building around 3:45 p.m., peaking at about 5:30 p.m. The afternoon rush was already likely to be heavy due to the end of the winter holiday break, and snow and icy roads could make congestion worse. “Accidents, breakdowns, and other incidents could cause rapidly growing traffic jams,” the agency said. Travelers are encouraged to use Rijkswaterstaat’s travel planner to avoid surprises.
During the evening rush, additional congestion is likely as intermittent snow and hail move over the Randstad from the west. Even areas not experiencing precipitation may be slippery due to freezing or leftover snow. Rijkswaterstaat warned that over 500 kilometers of traffic jams could form on national highways during peak hours. Commuters were advised to check routes in advance and adjust driving to hazardous conditions.
Operations at Schiphol Airport slowly started to begin again after an hours long stop on all departures and landings at the Amsterdam-area facility. Some 330 outbound passenger flights were cancelled as of 2:45 p.m., and another 366 inbound flights were scrapped, according to the airport's website. Passengers on another 155 flights headed to the airport, among Europe's largest, also faced delays, as did people ticketed on another 145 departing aircraft.
The website for Eindhoven Airport showed delays affecting 20 departures and 15 arrivals, with one flight cancelled in each direction to Faro, Portugal. Four flights departing Rotterdam The Hague Airport were cancelled, and about a dozen were delayed, while three inbound flights were scrapped and nine others were delayed.
Throughout Monday, snow and hail showers were expected across Utrecht and the eastern provinces, with new precipitation spreading across Noord-Holland, Friesland, and Flevoland. Snow showers moved in from the west on Monday morning. Initially expected around the IJsselmeer and Zeeland, the snowfall spread towards Rotterdam and The Hague.
Central and eastern regions are forecast to remain at or below freezing, allowing snow to accumulate, while coastal areas may see temperatures rise to 2–4 degrees Celsius, turning snow slushy. Winds are expected to be moderate to strong from the southwest.
Later Monday night, drier skies are expected, with significant cooling. Inland areas could see widespread moderate frost with temperatures dropping below -5 degrees, while western provinces may reach lows around -2 degrees.
Tuesday’s morning commute is also likely to be challenging, as snow and ice remain a concern. Dutch meteorological office KNMI has downgraded weather warnings from code orange to code yellow in several provinces, including Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, Zeeland, Friesland, and Groningen.
“Even under code yellow, hazardous conditions remain. Code orange signals a risk of significant damage, injury, or major disruption,” KNMI notes.
Snow accumulation in central and eastern areas may reach several centimeters Monday afternoon, while western provinces are expected to remain mostly dry. Roads may still be slippery due to ice.
