Overnight snow over much of the Netherlands led the KNMI weather bureau to issue a code yellow weather warning on Thursday morning because of slippery conditions on many roads.

In some eastern parts of the country as much as six centimetres of snow fell, leading to problems for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The north was particularly hard hit.

Traffic jams reached 820 kilometres in total by around 8 am, and although there were no major incidents, a number of cars skidded off the road. On Wednesday night in Drenthe, however, a car ended up in a canal and police are still searching for its occupants.

Some train services were disrupted, but the biggest problems – around Almere – were not due to the weather, an NS spokesman told broadcaster NOS.

The code yellow weather warning remains in force in the north and the Wadden Islands until Friday morning but will be phased out over the rest of the country as the day goes on.

According to weather bureau Weeronline, there may be more snow on Thursday evening, but the sun will return by Friday afternoon, although it will remain chilly in northern parts.

The weekend will be warmer, but it will be cloudy over most of the country with occasional showers.