The chilly weather and frosty nights are set to continue until next weekend and there could be some snow in the far south on Tuesday night, according to the KNMI weather bureau.

Tuesday night temperatures are set to be as low as -8 degrees, making it the coldest night of the winter so far. Wednesday in particular will be a cold day, with blue skies and sun everywhere.

The heavy frosts mean that skating is now possible on some outdoor rinks or on fields which have been deliberately flooded.

Rotterdam and Amsterdam have both opened emergency shelters for the homeless because of the cold, providing nearly 400 extra beds between them.

Meanwhile, the police are warning motorists they could be fined up to €380 if they don’t make sure their windscreens and mirrors are ice free before driving. In 2016, 800 fines were handed out to people because of poor visibility.