Despite the overnight frosts of the past few days, and the snow in the south of the Netherlands, there has been no 24-hour period of sub zero temperatures at the De Bilt weather station for 756 days – and that means a new weather record.

Official weather records are set at De Bilt weather station which is regarded as the centre of the country. According to weather bureau Weeronline, temperatures there have not remained below zero for 24 hours since December 17, 2022. The previous record dated from 1974 to 1976.

“Ice days” are becoming increasingly rare in the Netherlands as average temperatures rise, and 2024 was the hottest year on record.

Last century, there were an average of nine “ice days” a year in De Bilt. This century so far, there has been an average of six.

There were also 32 official national “cold spells” last century, which means five “ice days” in succession of which three involve at least -10° of frost. This century there has been just one, in 2012.

The KNMI weather bureau says there will be night frosts this week in sheltered places, particularly in the south. After some light rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, it will be dry with sunny spells leading up to next weekend.