Infrastructure Limits Exposed by Winter Weather

By Nina Lewandowska

Over the past week, a relatively light period of snowfall has been enough to disrupt life across the Netherlands. The impact has been felt far beyond inconvenience, with consequences going well past slippery roads or delayed public transport schedules. For a country so accustomed to cold winters and known for its efficiency, this disruption in the Netherlands raises questions about how accurate this established conviction is. Why does such a predictable change in weather still have the power to bring so much to a halt?

Who Bears the Costs of Winter?

When transportation and services struggle to function effectively in winter weather, the disruption spreads unevenly across society. Those with flexible jobs or private means of transport are far less affected than people who rely on public services daily. Although snow in the Netherlands is becoming much less frequent, it is still, nonetheless, a real possibility. One of the most talked about consequences of the snowfall happened at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. At least 800 flights were cancelled just on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, forcing around 1,000 people to spend the night at the airport. As one of Europe’s busiest transport hubs, Schiphol is expected to be prepared for various disruptions – even those which seem ‘impossible’.

Additionally an obvious lack of snowploughs, grit or salt on streets and sidewalks has resulted in dangerously slippery roads. Combined with the limited use of winter tyres, these conditions have significantly increased the risk of serious traffic accidents. In the north of the Netherlands, two people were killed in traffic-related incidents caused by these icy road conditions just on 7 January 2026. Despite this tragedy, government representatives as well as members of the public continue to argue that preparing for “just a few days of snow” is an unnecessary use of taxpayer money. This raises a troubling question: why are cost savings being prioritised over human lives?

At the same time, when transport systems struggle and services become unreliable, the effects quickly spread beyond individual experiences and trigger widespread economic consequences. Missed workdays, disrupted supply chains and slower business activity all carry financial costs.

The Price of Poor Winter Preparation

Even short periods of winter weather, such as this one, can have significant economic effects. Businesses face higher operating costs, while workers lose income through missed or shortened shifts. 

The Dutch national airline, KLM, being one of the airlines most affected by the snowy weather, has been sharply increasing prices to help accommodate stranded travellers. The weather is considered to be a situation beyond the airline’s control, but their lack of preparedness is not to be excused. KLM had to rush a truck to Germany to get 100,000 litres of de-icing fluid after theirs ran out. This not only put the truck drivers at risk but also forced thousands of the airline’s clients to miss work, connecting flights and even school – something many of us are bound to relate to. 

In addition to flights being grounded, rail and bus systems have also failed. Dutch rail operator NS stated that many of its trains suffered defects during last week’s snowy weather. A reported number of around 700 trains need service and are unavailable for public use. The maintenance, combined with the introduction of winter timetables that reduce service frequency, are expected to have serious financial consequences for the rail company. Many cities also experienced similar effects on their local bus networks. In Eindhoven, for example, buses connecting the airport to the city were cancelled despite the airport remaining operational. This created an incomplete transport chain, which also left passengers stranded, despite available flights. 

Together, these disruptions show how quickly limited weather preparedness can turn into a widespread economic problem. While exact figures for the total economic losses are not yet available, the effects are already visible through higher costs for companies, lost income for workers and reduced reliability across transport systems. Rather than being an unavoidable consequence of the climate crisis, these impacts point to inefficient choices about preparation and investment throughout the country. 

When Predictability is Ignored 

The events of the past week were not caused by extreme or unexpected weather, but by long-standing gaps in preparation. Detailed meteorological forecasts were available well in advance, making the snowfall predictable rather than surprising. The social and economic effects that followed show us that treating snow as a rare inconvenience rather than a manageable risk carries serious consequences. For a country with the resources and experience of the Netherlands, this raises wider questions about priorities. If foreseeable winter conditions can still bring daily life to a halt, it may be time to reconsider if short-term savings are worth the long-term costs to public safety, reliability, and confidence in national infrastructure

Sources: The Guardian, Dutch News, NL Times, BBC, ABC News

Written by Nina Lewandowska

Edited by Nina Gush, Sarah Valkenburg & Gabrielle Ludes