ANTICIPATION it's cold out tonight There had been lots of speculation in the media and in conversations but as the cold intensified we could feel that the snow and ice were on the way. I suppose smokers were thankful for the heated terraces.

SNOWFALL And then it really snowed The previous day saw a light dusting of snow but not as much as this. I think this was also as much as we wanted because too much snow on the ice would not be good for skating and that was what everyone was hoping to do - skate or walk on natural ice.

Frosted

Traffic on Haarlemmerstraat Really, why would you leave your bike at home? It's just a bit of snow...

Snowball Fight

gottcha ! I am often asked about peoples reaction to being photographed on the street. Amsterdam is packed with camera carrying tourists, so I guess we are just used to it. Some people indicate that they would rather not have their picture taken either verbally or by some gesture and of course I respect that. However I just love people like this man, people who decide to insert a little of their own personality in to the picture on their own terms.

Trepidation on Lekkeresluis Finally, after about five different attempts this girl managed to get safely to the bottom of this bridge. I stood here for a while and watched the different tactics that people took. I watched cars desperately trying to get traction on the incredibly slippery cobbles of the steep bridge: Lekkeresluis

Really? watching the driver of a small truck trying to climb the slippery Lekkeresluis pictured above

Café Thijssen decked in snow

Iced-in

Bickersgracht

Westerdok Almost frozen except for the channel left by boat traffic

Ice bath anyone? The magic of the winter wonderland appeared to be somewhat lost on these geese

Waiting for the ice to thicken The City of Amsterdam has asked the water authority to ban boat traffic along Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht and Lijnbaansgracht from here, Brouwersgracht as far as Leidsegracht to allow the ice to thicken. They have also closed locks and sluices to further improve the chances of creating a skaters winter paradise. For now we wait.

Gezellig The steam from the houseboats suggested that everyone was snug and warm inside.

FROZEN SOLID Skating Fever It's in the blood. The Dutch love to skate on natural ice it was once the only way to travel between remote villages in the winters long ago. Eventually several nights of sub-zero temperatures made the ice thick enough to skate on and Amsterdammers and tourists descended on to the ice.

Get your skates on

The adventurers On the first weekend, only the most adventurous dared to get out on to the ice.

Sledding across Nieuwmarkt

Snow Fun Amsterdammers had rosy cheeks all week

Waalseilandsgracht Whilst a grid of canals in the Jordaan were closed to boat traffic in order to allow the thick ice to form, elsewhere boats could still break their way through.

Waalseilandsgracht The winter light reflected back off the ice was stunning as were the reflections on the still waters left calm by the absence of wind and the infrequent boat traffic.

Montelbaansbrug The city only clears or grits the main roads out of concern for the environmental impact of too much grit. It only snowed briefly and on the quieter streets traffic quickly turned it to slush which gradually melted away