‘Damage is piling up’: has the Netherlands forgotten how to cope with snow?
The Guardian••business
Key Points:
- A rare week-long cold snap with up to 15cm of snow and temperatures as low as -10C has caused over 20,000 flight cancellations, transport chaos, building collapses, and frustration among Dutch cyclists due to poorly cleared cycle lanes.
- The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute reports that snow is becoming increasingly rare in the Netherlands due to climate change, with average annual snow cover dropping from 23 days in 1961 to just three days today.
- Many Dutch citizens and organizations express frustration that the country is unprepared for snow, with poorly maintained bike lanes forcing cyclists into dangerous traffic and drivers facing difficulties due to lack of winter tires and insufficient de-icing resources.
- Experts emphasize the need to improve infrastructure resilience for active mobility
