The Netherlands experienced its first snowy carnival in over a decade this weekend, with temperatures dropping to minus five degrees Celsius overnight and the KNMI issuing code yellow warnings for snowfall and slippery conditions. While most parades went ahead despite the wintry weather, the combination of cold, alcohol and celebration led to hypothermia cases, one parade being halted mid-route, and trains left in such a state that 250 cleaners could not keep up.
Snow halts parade in Hulst
The carnival parade in Hulst, Zeeland was stopped partway through on Sunday afternoon as roads became too slippery to continue safely. Organisers feared the heavy lead float could slide into houses lining the route. "It can only continue once the roads have been gritted," the organisation announced. Several large floats in nearby 's-Heerenhoek also had to return to their sheds mid-parade, though smaller floats and walking groups completed the route.
In Hulst, the floats remained parked in the town centre overnight because conditions were too dangerous to move them. The municipality arranged for security to watch over the floats and deployed gritting vehicles to eventually clear the way.
The KNMI warned of 3 to 5 centimetres of snow across most of the country, with some areas seeing up to 8 centimetres. Snow began falling from the southwest around 4pm on Sunday, spreading northeast through the evening. Meteorologist Johnny Willemsen of Weerplaza described the snow moving "like a polonaise from west to east across the province."
Hypothermia cases as temperatures plunge
The Red Cross, which deployed more than 820 volunteers across nearly 80 carnival events, warned that hypothermia can develop faster than people realise, particularly when combined with alcohol consumption. "Alcohol dilates your blood vessels, causing you to lose heat faster," a spokesperson explained.
In Breda, the EHBO first aid service reported an "intensive evening" with multiple cases of hypothermia and alcohol poisoning. The Tilburg Red Cross treated four hypothermia cases overnight Saturday into Sunday. Meanwhile, the emergency department at Tilburg's Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital reported a relatively quiet night with the usual carnival injuries: intoxicated individuals and minor bone fractures.
Most parade-goers heeded warnings to dress warmly in layers, with thermal undergarments beneath costumes. "We saw during the day that most people were dressed for it. It's also a convivial festival, people look out for each other," a Red Cross spokesperson observed.
NS overwhelmed by rubbish
Dutch Railways (NS) said it was "overwhelmed" by the mess carnival revellers left behind in trains over the weekend. Despite deploying 250 cleaners, double the usual number, staff could not fully clean all trains before the morning service resumed.
"From empty beer cans and confetti to pizza boxes and vomit," NS reported. "Despite doubling the number of cleaning teams, the enormous mess meant we could not completely clean the trains."
The railway company deployed mobile cleaning teams who boarded trains en route to tackle the worst mess in real time. Cleaners worked through the night at maintenance depots, but some passengers on Saturday morning still found themselves sitting among carnival debris. The problem extended beyond carnival regions in the south, as trains from Brabant and Limburg continue their journeys throughout the country.
NS appealed to carnival-goers to take their rubbish with them or dispose of it in bins at stations or at home.
Photo Credits: FransA/Pexels
Parades proceed despite conditions
Despite the challenging weather, most carnival parades went ahead as planned. In Berghem, Noord-Brabant, the illuminated evening parade proceeded after the municipality arranged extra gritting. Parade organisers in Sas van Gent and 's-Heerenhoek decided not to take additional precautions, hoping their parades would finish before the snow arrived.
The last time snow fell during carnival was in 2013, when 5 to 15 centimetres accumulated overnight before carnival Sunday. This year's snowfall, while significant, was less severe and largely melted by Monday morning as temperatures rose and rain moved in from the southwest.
Temperatures during the carnival weekend ranged from 3 to 4 degrees during the day, dropping to around minus 2 degrees at night. Monday and Tuesday are expected to be milder at around 6 to 8 degrees, though rain will continue.
