Video of icy, slippery Amsterdam goes viral
Several videos of pedestrians, cyclists, and even cars slipping and sliding over an icy Prinsengracht in Amsterdam have gone viral. Tens of millions of people watched the videos on TikTok, Instagram, and X.
Two videos were posted online by flagshipamsterdam. “We came for a beer, stayed for the view,” they wrote under the video of pedestrians doing their best to stay on their feet, cyclists falling over, and cars sliding into sidewalks.
RTL Nieuws spoke to an employee at Café Het Bruine Paard on Prinsengracht, who witnessed the chaos up close. “It was incredibly slippery, especially on the bridges,” she said. “People were falling like flies. We had to push cars constantly to get them over.”
The icy conditions also resulted in more customers for the bar. “People came inside just to stop slipping.”
The videos were met with much humor online, mostly making fun of the Dutch and their bicycles. “Love how they still try to use their bikes to get around. You guys really are stubborn,” one person commented. And: “Is it possible to leave the bike home for these few days with ice on the street? Or that's some kind of identity death?”
Other commenters identified with the people in the videos. “Bro just lying flat on his stomach accepting his fate as his homeboy pushes him by the ankles. I’d be laughing so hard I’d trip too.” And: “The guy that throws the bike and then tries to reach it is my spirit animal.”
Others thought the city should have been more prepared. “Somebody forgot to put down the salt.” And: “We invented salt.... throw it on the streets.”
