Kingfisher freezes solid as ice skaters take to frigid Amsterdam canals

Europe so cold that famous Dutch waterways turn solid enough for skating

The frozen kingfisher (Cover Images)

A kingfisher froze to death in ice as canals in the Netherlands turned solid in Europe's big freeze.

The striking blue bird was spotted by one of many skaters making the most of the exceptional conditions.

Many waterways have frozen hard as the sub-zero temperatures hit most of the continent.

Amsterdam's canals were closed to boats to allow the ice to harden enough to take the weight of people walking and skating on them. It is thought to be the first time in six years that Dutch waterways have been solid enough to do so.

Christoph van Ingen, who spotted the kingfisher in the town of Oostzaan, just north of Amsterdam, said he believed it might have dived into the canal to catch fish as the water was turning solid and been unable to escape.

Residents and tourists were skating on the Prinsengracht canal yesterday, some even taking their dogs out on it.

Italy has been equally hit hard by snow this week, with hundreds of schools closing.

Europe’s deep freeze caused more delays on roads and public transport across the region following heavy snowfall and blizzards.

The town of Barth, on Germany's north coast facing the Baltic Sea, experienced temperatures as low as -17.5C.

Meteorologists say the big freeze is linked to exceptionally prolonged spells of warm air over the Arctic, caused by man-made climate change.