University opens in good spirits
The UB opened its doors at 8:30 A.M. and classes resumed at 10. The university made its decision largely based upon public transportation. ‘Buses and trains are running again, but we will be keeping a close eye on the situation’, reads a message on the RUG Twitter account. At the moment, a code red is still in effect in the northern provinces, according to the Dutch weather service, KNMI.
Conditions remain very icy in the area. The weather institute is predicting that a rainy weather front will arrive around 2 P.M. in the region, which could lead to a considerable amount of snow and ice.
The university is open from 09:00. Classes start at 10:00. Public transport is available. We keep a close watch on the weather conditions
— University Groningen (@univgroningen) January 7, 2016
‘Dangerous day’
Arriva announced that trains and buses are running on a normal schedule on Thursday. ‘But of course, we will be watching the weather conditions very closely.’ According to RTV Noord weather correspondent Harma Boer, Thursday is shaping up to be ‘a dangerous day for travel’. Boer predicts that conditions will remain slippery throughout the afternoon due to widespread and sudden thawing from the front moving in from the southwest. The warmer temperatures will be accompanied by more sleet. 
The week on ice
Most students and staff stayed home on Monday and Tuesday due to power issues at the Zernike campus and the majority of university facilities being closed altogether on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the university began the day under a code orange weather alert, but wound up canceling classes after 1 P.M. and closing all buildings at 6 P.M.
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- Due to a power outage, the Linnaeusborg at Zernike was closed on Monday. Photo: Pepijn van den Broeke
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- Due to a power outage, the Linnaeusborg at Zernike was closed on Monday. Photo: Pepijn van den Broeke
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- A porter closes the gates to the Harmony complex on Tuesday at noon. Photo: Traci White
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- The Broerplein was largely empty on Tuesday as the Academy building was closed. Photo: Traci White
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- A student retrieves his bike from the bike racks on the slippery Broerplein on Tuesday. Photo: Traci White
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- A thin sheen of ice covered the cobblestones at the Broerplein on Tuesday. Photo: Traci White
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- A rainbow-painted bike was glazed in a layer of ice near the Broerplein on Tuesday. Photo: Traci White
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- The tower of the Academy building peers out above snowy rooftops in the city centre. Photo: Traci White
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- A lone students sits on the steps of the closed Heymans building, part of the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences. Photo: Traci White
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- A student walks past the closed Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences on Tuesday. Photo: Traci White
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- Empty bike racks stand covered in ice outside the closed Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences. Photo: Traci White
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- A young woman glides down the middle of the Grote Rozenstraat. Photo: Traci White
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- Blades of grass peek through the ice and snow at the UMCG campus on Tuesday. Photo: Traci White
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- The lion statues guarding the entrance to UMCG were covered in snow on Tuesday morning. Photo: Traci White
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- The buildings on the Antonius Deusinglaan were officially closed on Tuesday morning due to ice and snow. Photo: Traci white
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- Dentistry students continued to work in their offices on Tuesday despite the weather. Photo: Traci White
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- A student carefully steers his bike away from the abandoned bike racks at UMCG. Photo: Traci White
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- A students delicately makes her way up the frozen stairs at Antonius Deusinglaan on Tuesday morning. Photo: Traci White
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- UMCG was also covered in ice on Tuesday morning. Photo: Traci White
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- Steam rises over a snowy UMCH campus on Tuesday morning. Photo: Traci White
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- Icicles hang from a lamp post at UMCG on Tuesday. Photo: Traci White
Students across the city found creative ways to entertain themselves thanks to the weather. Student Christian organisation CSFR Groningen organized an impromptu curling match on the icy streets.
Wij zijn ijsvrij, dus spelen we een potje bierkratcurling.. Posted by CSFR Groningen – Yir’at ‘Adonay on Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Ice skating team G.S.S.V. Tjas also took advantage of the wintry conditions for speed skating in the city.
Schaatswedstrijd op straatDe ijzel zorgt voor oponthoud maar ook voor bijzondere momenten. Zo hield studentenschaatsvereniging G.S.S.V. Tjas vandaag een kortebaanwedstrijd op straat! Posted by OOG Radio & Televisie on Tuesday, January 5, 2016
The Noorderplantsoen area was also covered by sledding students, many of whom skated to the popular park on the slippery sidewalks.
Groningen: as cold as ice Posted by Universiteitskrant Groningen on Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Check out the UK’s Facebook page for more videos, photos and tips for how to cope with the cold weather conditions.
