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Cold Snap Brings Skating Crowds, Tunnel Ice and Busy 112 Calls Across the Netherlands

Freezing weather is testing emergency services across the Netherlands.

Overview

  • Rijkswaterstaat reports ice forming in and near tunnels due to shrinking joints, triggering closures or restrictions at the N31 near Harlingen, the A28 at Hoogeveen, the A12 Gouwe-aquaduct and the N434 Corbulotunnel, with crews de-icing using tools such as the Firestorm.
  • Natural-ice and improvised rinks opened widely on Second Christmas Day — from Doorn and Zeist to Noordlaren and sites across Drenthe — drawing large turnouts, and Winterswijk hosted a KNSB-approved marathon.
  • Rail traffic between Meppel and Hoogeveen resumed Thursday night after the removal of a stranded train restored normal service.
  • Police in Leiden uncovered a large cache of heavy illegal fireworks in Roomburg; the municipality imposed an area ban on a minor and urged parents to monitor children’s behavior.
  • Regional 112 logs detail numerous fires and accidents over the holiday period, including multiple house fires and an apartment blaze in Lelystad likely starting in a dryer, alongside arrests such as a burglar found by police dog Wout.