PARIS – Europe remained in the grip of a cold front Friday as the Eiffel Tower stayed closed for a second consecutive day because of ice on its iron steps, the management company said.

The problem of ice on the monument cannot be resolved by spreading salt, since that would corrode its iron structure. And sand could damage the mechanism of the tower’s elevators.

Between 10 and 15 centimetres of snow has fallen on the French capital since early Thursday and temperatures continue to hover around the freezing mark.

It was the first time the Eiffel Tower has been closed for several days because of weather since 1986.

Meanwhile the Netherlands recorded its lowest ever March temperature with the mercury falling to -20.7 degrees Celsius at dawn Thursday in Marknesse in the north-east of the country.

The three northern provinces, Friesland, Grongingen and Drenthe all had strong overnight frosts. The previous March low of -18.7 was recorded in 1971. Records have been kept since 1900.

The snowfalls of the past two days have also set 50-year records, with up to half a metre recorded in some parts of the north.

Transport services faced major delays including flights at Schiphol Airport and the bus and train networks. – Sapa-dpa.