The Netherlands has been hit by its first major snowstorm in a decade, forcing vaccination centres, schools and Covid testing sites to be closed.
Storm Darcy has has swept across northern Europe, blanketing the UK, Holland and Germany in snow, bringing icy temperatures and major disruption.
The Netherlands issued a ‘code red’ emergency after Sunday’s storm which saw winds of 55mph and temperatures drop to -6C.
The Netherlands has been blanketed by the first major snowstorm to hit the country in 10 years, disrupting rail and road traffic
A snowplough is seen clearing snow on the road as the Netherlands woke up with a layer of snow covering most of the country
People enjoy sledding in the snow in the Griftpark in Utrecht as Storm Darcy brought major disruption across Northern Europe
The stunning scenes are reminiscent of the snow paintings of the Renaissance artist Bruegel with Dutch windmills blanketed in snow
Germany has also been affected by the snowstorm, as a crew clears ice and snow from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Monday
Storm Darcy has swept in from eastern Europe, affecting Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and the UK
Schools were due to reopen after a seven-week closure due to Covid but authorities ordered them to remain closed due to the extreme weather.
Coronavirus test and vaccination locations in at least eight towns including Haarlem, Alphen aan den Rijn and Den Helder were staying shut because of the wintry conditions, the GGD public health service said.
Meanwhile in Germany, lorries got stuck in snowdrifts overnight on the A4 highway near Gera, while part of the A7 near Goettingen was closed after trucks became stuck on uphill stretches, news agency dpa reported.
Railway operator Deutsche Bahn said services remained suspended across parts of central and northern Germany, with no long-distance trains running north-east from Frankfurt, west from Berlin or south-west from Hamburg.
Snow covers a houseboat in Amsterdam where a ‘code red’ emergency was issued after Sunday’s storm which saw winds of 55mps and temperatures drop to -6C
Schools were due to reopen in Holland after a seven-week closure due to Covid but authorities ordered them to remain closed due to the extreme weather
Storm Darcy has has swept across northern Europe, blanketing the UK, Holland and Germany in snow, bringing icy temperatures and major disruption. Pictured: Amsterdam
Dutch railway operator NS said a ‘very limited service’ was expected in the Netherlands after the snow dump on the tracks
Groups of people and families were sledding in the snow at the Kronenburg Park in Nijmegen as locals took advantage of the rare snowstorm
Dozens of schools in the capital Amsterdam (pictured), the port city of Rotterdam, Utrecht and other locations are staying shut due to the weather
The big freeze has raised hopes that the Netherlands’ famed canals will ice over in some places by around Thursday
The storm, named Darcy by the Dutch national weather service, is being driven by freezing winds from the east of Europe
People stroll in the fresh fallen snow in the Heilooerbos, in Heiloo, The Netherlands, during the rare snow storm
Coronavirus test and vaccination locations in at least eight towns including Haarlem, Alphen aan den Rijn and Den Helder were staying shut because of the wintry conditions
Dutch railway operator NS said a ‘very limited service’ was expected in the Netherlands.
Heavy snow overnight also impacted transport in the Czech Republic. International trains faced hours of delays while numerous commuter trains to Prague had to be cancelled. Trams and buses in the capital were also disrupted.
The D1 motorway that links Prague with the country’s second largest city, Brno, was blocked in several places by lorries, while an accident halted traffic on the D8 leading from Prague to Germany.
Dozens of schools in the capital Amsterdam, the port city of Rotterdam, Utrecht and other locations were staying shut, mainly because of transport difficulties for pupils and staff, public broadcaster NOS said.
A woman enjoys sledding in the Griftpark in Utrecht as snow caused major disruption but gave Dutch people a rare chance to have fun in the snow
Dutch media reported that many shops had already sold out of skates in anticipation of the first such chance to take to the ice since 2018
The Dutch infrastructure agency reported 450 accidents since the weekend with people struggling to navigate the wintry conditions
People walk in the city centre as it snows in Nijmegen as the Netherlands was blanketed in snow by Storm Darcy
Cross-country skiers in the snow in the outskirts of Dalfsen in Overijssel as they enjoy a thick layer of snow
A man takes images with his mobile phone in the near-empty Red Light District in Amsterdam, as snow and strong winds blanketed much of the Netherlands
Storm Darcy, which also caused transport disruption in Germany, has headed across the North Sea towards Britain
The Dutch infrastructure agency reported 450 accidents since the weekend.
The big freeze has raised hopes that the Netherlands’ famed canals will ice over in some places by around Thursday, allowing people to go ice-skating, a national obsession.
Dutch media reported that many shops had already sold out of skates in anticipation of the first such chance to take to the ice since 2018.
If the icy conditions continue, it could raise pressure on authorities to allow a traditional 125-mile ice-skating marathon through 11 cities called the Elfstedentocht to be held for the first time since 1997.
Dutch authorities have so far ruled it out even if the conditions are right, because of the risk of coronavirus transmission if crowds gather to watch.
Storm Darcy, which also caused transport disruption in Germany, has headed across the North Sea towards Britain.
If the icy conditions continue, it could raise pressure on Dutch authorities to allow a traditional 125-mile ice-skating marathon through 11 cities
In Germany, lorries got stuck in snowdrifts overnight on the A4 highway near Gera, while part of the A7 near Goettingen was closed after trucks became stuck on uphill stretches
A weeping willow is covered with fresh snow as a woman walks along the Landwehr Canal in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district
Strollers cross a bridge as they take a walk through the Machteich Park in the northern German city of Hanover