Multiple accidents on icy roads; Milder weather from Thursday
Snowy weather and icy roads caused multiple accidents in the Netherlands on Sunday evening. On Monday, too, accidents caused traffic jams on Dutch highways, though no icy roads warnings are currently in effect. Two separate accidents are causing over an hour's delay toward Amsterdam. The cold weather will linger in the country for a few days yet, but will turn noticeably milder from Thursday, the meteorological institute KNMI expects.
Sunday’s accidents were mainly in Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland, NOS reported. Two cars skidded off the road on the N993 near Ten Boer in two separate incidents, a few hundred meters apart. Both cars ended up in a ditch. A car also skidded into a ditch near Spijk in Groningen. Near Froombosch, a car hit a tree. And in Emmen, two cars collided on a snow-covered road. All occupants were unharmed.
On Monday morning, accidents were causing delays on several highways, according to the Rijkswaterstaat. Two cars collided on the A2 toward Amsterdam near Maarssen, resulting in 20 minutes of extra travel time.
Traffic is also backed up on the A8 toward Amsterdam before the Zaandam junction. Two lanes are closed after multiple cars collided. The Rijkswaterstaat warned of extra travel time exceeding 40 minutes.
There was also a multi-car pile-up on the A15 at the Sliedrecht-Oost off-ramp, causing a 50-minute delay.
The ANWB also warned of a busy morning rush hour on Monday due to winter showers. At 8:26 a.m., the travelers’ organization reported 111 traffic jams covering 644 kilometers of Dutch roads.
The KNMI expects winter showers and fog across the Netherlands on Monday and Tuesday, with maximums climbing to around 6 degrees and minimums dropping to just below freezing inland, and higher along the coast.
Wednesday will also see some light frost during the night and early morning, but with more sunny spells later in the day. “From Thursday onwards, there will be occasional rain, and it will be noticeably milder,” the meteorological institute said.
