Slip accidents and accidents due to slipping, orange alert in several governorates
The Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut (KNMI – Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) has issued an orange warning for the provinces of North and South Holland, Gelderland, Utrecht, and North Brabant due to slippery roads caused by winter rainfall and freezing of wet surfaces. The warning is in effect until at least 11:00 AM.
Several centimeters of snow have fallen across the country, especially in the central and eastern regions, with Arnhem already recording 7 centimeters. Authorities expect more snow accumulation throughout the day.
Winter conditions caused several accidents on the roads. A car skidded on the A6 road near Almere and fell into a ditch, but the driver was unharmed. A truck driver lost control of his vehicle on the N377 road near Didam and ended up partially in a ditch, while another truck skidded off the N305 road near Zeewolde and the driver was taken to the hospital.
In Emmen, a car skidded off the road and overturned in a ditch, but both passengers were fine. Two cars collided on the A28 road near Eelde, leading to a temporary closure of the road heading towards Assen. Authorities continue to warn drivers to exercise extreme caution.
The winter weather also caused significant disruptions at Schiphol Airport. Hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled, and some travelers had to spend the night at the airport due to visa restrictions preventing them from leaving. The airport management provided blankets and pillows, while accommodations were arranged for most travelers in nearby hotels. Additionally, clearing the runways of snow and de-icing the planes slowed operations and reduced the number of flights that could take off and land.