The Dutch skating union KNSB on Monday warned keen skaters that the wind is making it more difficult for lakes and waterways to freeze over, so the ice that has grown is extremely unreliable.

Several days of freezing temperatures have left skating fans raring to go, but so far there are few places where the ice is safe enough to skate, apart from on artificial outdoor rinks, the KNSB said.

According to the KNSB website, five artificial rinks are now open, and more will follow in the coming days.

In Amsterdam, the city’s water board has decided not to bring in a boating ban on some canals and to close the sluice gates, so that the parts of the city’s waterway network can freeze over.

The KNMI weather bureau says the freezing temperatures with plenty of sunshine will continue into next weekend, although there may be some snow on Friday and Saturday.

By Sunday it will be warmer again during the day and the thaw will set in, the KNMI said.