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Christmas Cold Snap Brings Brief Natural-Ice Openings Across the Netherlands

Volunteer crews used layered spraying on asphalt tracks to seize a short freeze, with thin ice and safety rules keeping major events on hold.

Overview

  • Local clubs in Tolbert, Zeist, Drouwenerveen and Oosterbeek opened for public skating on Eerste Kerstdag, with several limiting hours to protect fragile ice.
  • Tolbert’s newly asphalted track welcomed skaters from 09:30 and aimed to stay open into the evening, while Zeist shut at 12:45 after quality deteriorated.
  • Oosterbeek offered a two-hour window in the morning and Drouwenerveen operated from 10:00 to 15:00 before reflooding to rebuild thickness for Friday.
  • Many venues, including Noordlaren, Doorn, Nieuw-Buinen and Stevensbeek, prepared to open on Tweede Kerstdag pending overnight freezing.
  • The KNSB has not cleared any natural-ice marathon, citing minimum thickness requirements of around 3 centimeters and a forecast warm-up after the weekend.