The Hague and large parts of the Netherlands are experiencing wintry weather, with snow and icy conditions causing disruption to travel and daily activities this week.
The Dutch national meteorological institute KNMI has issued a Code Orange weather warning for snow and slippery conditions across almost the entire country today.
What does Code Orange mean?
If you’re new to The Netherlands, Code Orange is part of the KNMI weather warning system. It signals that weather conditions are likely to be dangerous and have significant impacts on daily life, such as travel disruption, slippery roads, and potential accidents. It is more serious than a Code Yellow alert and can be issued when conditions pose a high risk to safety and transport.
In the current situation, the warning relates mainly to snowfall, freezing temperatures and icy conditions. Roads, cycle paths and pavements can become very slippery, visibility may be reduced and conditions can change quickly.
Impact in The Hague
In The Hague, snowfall has been relatively modest compared with some inland areas, but is still significant. Freezing temperatures mean that wet surfaces can quickly become icy. Cycling and walking conditions are particularly affected, and people are advised to take extra care. Municipal services are treating roads and paths with salt, but slippery patches may still occur, especially early in the morning and late in the evening.
Waste collection in The Hague has been temporarily suspended due to the winter conditions. All door-to-door waste collection, bulky waste pick-ups, the emptying of underground containers and street bins, and litter collection have been halted for the day, and municipal waste disposal sites are closed. Many waste collection vehicles and staff from the Hague Environmental Service are currently deployed for gritting roads, while icy conditions make collection on smaller streets unsafe. Residents are advised to continue using underground containers where possible, store waste at home if containers are full, and keep bulky waste and Christmas trees indoors until services resume. The situation will be reassessed on Thursday morning, 8 January, and collection will restart as soon as conditions allow.
National transport disruption
Across the Netherlands, snow and ice have led to travel disruption. Train services are operating on reduced winter timetables with fewer scheduled trains, and airports, including Schiphol, have experienced major flight cancellations and delays because of snow and de-icing requirements.
Authorities are urging people to work from home where possible, avoid unnecessary travel and allow extra time if they do need to go out.
How to monitor updates
Residents and visitors are advised to follow official sources closely, as weather warnings and conditions can change quickly. KNMI provides up-to-date weather warnings, maps and explanations on its website, including details of current alerts. The KNMI weather app (available on iOS and Android) offers push notifications when warning levels change. Local and national news outlets also provide updates on transport disruption and safety advice.
Wintry conditions are expected to continue in the coming days, and residents are encouraged to stay informed and take precautions.
Sources
- KNMI live blog on current Code Orange warning (KNMI)
https://www.knmi.nl/over-het-knmi/nieuws/liveblog-code-oranje-gladheid-5-januari-2026 knmi.nl - NL Times: Code Orange warning for most of the Netherlands
https://nltimes.nl/2026/01/06/wednesday-snow-warning-intensified-code-orange-netherlands
