Heavy snowfall severely disrupted air, road, and rail transportation across France and the Netherlands on Monday, January 5. Hundreds of flights were cancelled in the two countries’ capitals, train services around Amsterdam were brought to a halt, and bus operations in Paris were suspended. At Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of the busiest in Europe, approximately 700 flights were cancelled after the airport temporarily closed to incoming air traffic until 12:00 GMT due to heavy snow, according to airport officials. During the closure, incoming flights were diverted to other airports. “There are long queues here,” a stranded passenger told Dutch media outlet AD. “There’s very little information about what will happen next.”

In France, the civil aviation authority instructed airlines to cut flight operations by 15 percent — around 30 flights at Paris–Charles de Gaulle and 40 at Paris–Orly — until the evening, airport operator Aeroports de Paris reported. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot advised travellers to confirm their flight status before leaving home and encouraged the use of public transportation to reach airports. He also imposed reduced speed limits of 80 km per hour on roads throughout the Ile-de-France region surrounding Paris.

Public transport in the French capital was also affected, with state-owned operator RATP cancelling dozens of bus routes, though metro and suburban rail services continued operating. Traffic congestion across Ile-de-France peaked at nearly 1,000 kilometers, far exceeding the typical rush-hour level of about 300 kilometers, according to regional authorities.

Dutch railway operator NS reported that all train services in the Amsterdam region were suspended, with widespread disruption to public transport. The company announced that a reduced “winter schedule” would be implemented starting Tuesday. International operator Eurostar also cancelled departures from the Netherlands, with trains bound for the country terminating instead in Brussels, Belgium. Icy and snowy conditions caused numerous road accidents and delays, prompting authorities to urge residents to remain at home whenever possible. Officials warned that additional travel disruptions are likely in the coming days as winter weather continues.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.