Freezing winds from Siberia are set to blow into the Netherlands this weekend, bringing heavy frost and renewed hopes of outdoor skating.

Temperatures will start dropping from Wednesday, bringing overnight frost and day temperatures around freezing point. By next week, the temperature could dip to as low as -10 degrees in the east of the country, according to weather website Buienradar.

The KNMI weather bureau says there will be frost at night for the next week and an 80% chance that it will continue into March. No rain or snow is on the horizon and there will also be plenty of sunshine, the KNMI said.

Raymond Klaassen from weather website Weerplaza told NOS radio that keen skaters may be able to take to the ice early next week. At least five centimetres of ice is needed to skate on shallow lakes and waterways and by next Wednesday, there could be six centimetres of ice in places, he said.

People heading for the Alpine ski resorts in the half term holiday are also being warned about the cold – it could hit as low as -20 degrees in the mountains, according to Buienradar.