A group of unfortunate ice skaters needed a helping hand after being plunged into the icy waters of Amsterdam's canals on Sunday.

Onlookers used hockey sticks and ropes to help pull a number of people out of the freezing canal after the sheet of ice they had been skating on cracked and broke.

Sub-zero temperatures have provided perfect conditions for skating in the Netherlands, which has a long tradition of the sport.

People have been flocking to canals in Amsterdam and all over the Netherlands to enjoy the wintry conditions.

However, local authorities have warned that the current cold snap in the country is coming to an end and it may be dangerous to skate.

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