Snow paralyzes the Netherlands: near-total halt of transportation
Heavy snowfall has caused a near-complete paralysis of public transport in the Netherlands for the second consecutive day, leading to widespread disruptions in bus, train, and flight services as winter weather conditions continue to deteriorate.
According to reports from the Dutch broadcasting agency NOS, bus services have been completely suspended in the city of Utrecht due to snow and slippery roads. Authorities confirmed that buses will not operate throughout the day and will also stop during morning rush hours.
In most areas, a partial restart of train services is taking place according to what is known as the winter timetable, which is a reduced schedule compared to the usual times. However, train operations in the Amsterdam area are still significantly affected due to frozen tracks, hindering a full return to service.
The aviation sector has also been severely affected, with Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam Schiphol Airport) witnessing a large number of flight cancellations, along with a noticeable reduction in the number of departing flights for safety reasons due to snow and ice.
Authorities urged residents to continuously monitor official updates and avoid unnecessary travel. They also advised working from home if possible, planning trips in advance, and exercising caution, as icy conditions and snowfall are expected to continue for several days ahead.