NETHERLANDS – The freezing weather has caused holes to appear in the surface of the A6 motorway between Lelystad, in the central Netherlands, and Muiden near Amsterdam.

Two lanes were closed at the junction near Almere for repairs although it is not clear when they will reopen.

Breakdown services are deploying extra staff to deal with the increased number of calls from stranded motorists.

On Monday, the ANWB motoring organisation, which runs the largest breakdown service, responded to 5,500 calls from motorists - 2,000 more than on a normal day.

The icy conditions have led to special measures being taken by a number of organisations. Homeless people in the province of Groningen have been obliged to move into emergency accommodation.

On Monday night, a temperature of nearly minus 15 degree Celsius was recorded at Maastrich-Aachen Airport, in the extreme south of the Netherlands.

On Tuesday night, even lower temperatures are being forecast, with the thermometer falling to minus 17 or 18 degree Celsius in some places.

[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]