Netherlands as an ice skating country: Everything you need to know for this winter
Ice skating is 1 of the most popular winter activities in the Netherlands. Every year, when it gets cold, people take to the ice en masse to go skating. Sometimes people go onto the natural ice too soon and slip through. So wait until you are sure the ice is thick enough.
Ice skating is very popular in the Netherlands. It has been so for centuries. When it freezes, many people like to skate. You can skate on 2 types of ice: natural ice and artificial ice.
Natural ice: This ice comes from nature, for example on lakes, ditches and canals. If it is cold for a long time, the water freezes and you can skate on it. Sometimes villages flood a meadow or skating rink so it can freeze and people can skate.
Artificial ice: This ice is made at skating rinks that are refrigerated. These rinks are often open from October to March, so you can skate even when it is not freezing. In the Netherlands, there are 23 skating rinks that are covered or partially covered.
Anyone can learn to skate, but it takes some time
Ice skating is for everyone! Whether you are young or old, you can learn it. At many skating rinks you can rent skates, so you do not need your own. If you cannot skate well yet, you can take skating lessons at many places. Do you find skating exciting? There are often people willing to help or give you tips. You can also bring a chair to the ice to hold onto while you practice. This helps you find your balance. Most indoor rinks have racks you can use instead of a chair.
It may take some time to get it right, but with practice it will get easier and easier. Falling is part of the game, and it is normal if you are cold. Therefore, dress well in warm clothes. And bring gloves with you: for your safety it is mandatory to wear them, so you can avoid injury if you fall.
You can enjoy "koek-en-zopie" (food and drink)
At many ice skating rinks, you will find stalls where you can buy "koek-en-zopie". These are hot drinks, such as chocolate milk, tea or coffee and snacks. This makes ice skating extra fun and is nice to warm up.
The Netherlands wins many international awards with ice skating
The Netherlands has a good name in the sport of ice skating. Many Dutch skaters have won prizes at major competitions, such as the Olympics and world championships. They are especially good at skating on the long track: a 400-meter ice rink. These successes make the Netherlands one of the best countries in ice skating.
Elfstedentocht: the journey of tours
The most famous ice skating tour in the Netherlands is the Elfstedentocht. This is a tour of almost 200 kilometres along 11 cities in Friesland. You have to skate the tour in 1 day: a great achievement. The first Elfstedentocht was ridden in the winter of 1890-1891 by a group of 100 men and women. In 1909, the tour was officially organised as a competition for the first time.
The Elfstedentocht is only held when the ice is thick enough. When the tour takes place, people from all over the country come to Friesland to cheer on the skaters. The 1963 tour is famous for how tough it was. It was -18 degrees at the time and of the 10,000 people who started, only 127 reached the finish line.
The last Elfstedentocht was run on 4 January 1997. Since then, it has never been so cold that the entire route has frozen over. Yet every year, when it gets colder, there is speculation: maybe there will be another Elfstedentocht!