Just as a comparison, within a weeks time, I've been on two continents, with two very different types of climates. The NL is much further north than Wisconsin, however due to the influence of the sea on the climate, it doesn't get really cold here or snow at all (not very often at least). The picture on the left was taken this past Sunday in de Bilt, just outside of Utrecht. The other was taken in Wisconsin on Dec 31st, after it snowed about 6" a few days earlier. Both are pretty, but only one is really "winter" to me.
