The Dutch transport ministry and KNMI weather bureau have warned motorists nationwide to beware of slippery conditions on the roads on Friday morning.

The KNMI extended a code yellow weather warning to the entire country, apart from the Wadden islands, saying that wet road surfaces may have frozen overnight. In particular, there is a risk of snow flurries and black ice in the north of the country, the KNMI said.

Transport ministry grit lorries have spread almost five million kilos of salt on the main roads to keep the icy conditions at bay.

The chilly weather is set to continue over the weekend and the KNMI’s warning also applies to Saturday.

The temperature is set to hover around freezing point on Saturday morning and there may be some wintry showers, but by the afternoon it will be dry with a mix of sunshine and cloud, the KNMI said.

Inland, the temperature will rise to around 3° but it will be warmer on the coast.

Sunday will be dry and overcast, with temperatures close to zero, but it will gradually become a little warmer next week, the KNMI said.