Flights, trains cancelled as snow falls over much of the country

The forecast heavy snow arrived later than expected in the Netherlands on Friday and there were few serious problems during the morning rush hour, according to media reports.

The KNMI weather bureau has issued a code orange extreme weather warning for most of the Netherlands and the snow has been heaviest in southern and western parts of the country.

The ANWB motoring organisation said drivers had moderated their speeds to take account of the weather. Rush hour also started earlier than normal as drivers tried to beat the forecast bad weather.

Nevertheless, there were longer jams than usual, with traffic heaviest around Breda, Arnhem, Nijmegen, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, the ANWB said.

Salt lorries had been out in force overnight and snow ploughs are on standby in Zeeland and round Alkmaar and Amsterdam. The snow is expected to continue until early afternoon, giving cover of five to 10 cm, and up to 15 cm in places.

NS and Schiphol

Dutch Rail (NS) reported no delays with morning services and has extra staff on standby to deal with problems. However, services have been reduced to offset the risk of major disruption and passengers are warned to expect crowded trains and longer journey times.

At Schiphol airport, one in four Friday flights have already been cancelled and snow elsewhere in Europe is also having an impact on arrivals and departures, a spokesman said.

Airline KLM on Thursday evening cancelled dozens of European flights as a precautionary measure. Travellers are advised to check with their airline for details.