Emergency services rushed to the scene in the city of Schiedam but could not resuscitate the victim, who died on Monday.

Police identified the two teens from security camera footage and are questioning them to see what role they may have played.

"A fight may have broken out after snowballs were thrown, and blows were exchanged," Dutch police said in a statement.

"The investigation is ongoing to determine exactly what they did or said," added authorities.

According to local media outlet Rijnmond, the police believe youths were lobbing snowballs at passing cars.

The victim made some comments about this and came under blows, according to Rijnmond.

Like much of western Europe, the Netherlands has been grappling with wintry weather that has blanketed the country in snow, resulting in transport chaos.