Slippery roads across the Netherlands as snow and ice trigger code yellow alerts

The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) issued a code yellow alert for slippery roads across almost the entire Netherlands Sunday morning, except in Limburg and Zeeland. Snow and ice have already caused hazardous driving conditions, and a second round of snow is expected in the north and east later in the day.

Early Sunday, western regions including Noord-Brabant and Flevoland saw 1 to 2 centimeters of snow accumulate, covering streets, sidewalks, and cars in a thin white layer. Snowfall was reported in Utrecht, Rotterdam, Haarlem, and Oisterwijk in Noord-Brabant. The KNMI said snow in the west and south will melt by mid-morning, but icy conditions will persist.

The wintery conditions led to early morning traffic accidents. On the A28 highway between Ermelo and Putten, a car slid into the guardrail in a single-vehicle crash. Another vehicle ran off the road on the A1 near Muiden.

Code yellow warnings remain in Flevoland, Gelderland, and Utrecht until 10 a.m., and in Drenthe and Overijssel until 11 a.m. A second code yellow alert is in effect later Sunday in the northeast. In Gelderland, Overijssel, and Friesland, slippery roads are expected between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., while Groningen and Drenthe remain under the alert from 5 p.m. until midnight.

The ANWB traffic service advised drivers to “maintain extra distance from vehicles ahead, look far ahead while driving, and accelerate slowly when starting from a stop. Shifting into second gear when moving off, using little gas, and letting the clutch rise slowly can help maintain control on icy roads.”

Forecasters said afternoon and early evening snow in the north and east could accumulate several centimeters, creating renewed hazards. Temperatures will rise later in the evening, turning snow to rain and reducing the risk of ice.

The cold weather also allowed recreational activity. In Winterswijk, the outdoor skating rink, which opened Friday for the first time this fall, will reopen Sunday at 8:15 a.m. The rink has a white coating that absorbs less heat, enabling ice to form more easily.