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Dutch Ice Clubs Race to Freeze Rinks During Brief Christmas Cold Snap

Overnight crews will spray thin layers on cleaned asphalt to capitalize on forecast subzero nights before a rapid warm-up.

Overview

  • Zeist plans to start ice-making at 22:00 tonight, while Doorn schedules volunteer shifts to begin on Christmas Day evening.
  • Tolbert will spray at 22:00 with hopes of opening tomorrow, Noordlaren prepares cautiously for a possible Boxing Day start, and Nieuw-Buinen targets the same if conditions allow.
  • De Lier readies its engineered layer-by-layer spraying system on a concrete base and says one frost night could be enough to open around Christmas if temperatures cooperate.
  • Forecasts call for an easterly wind and nighttime lows roughly between -1°C and -5°C, with much colder wind chill that could support rapid freezing.
  • Forecasters warn the opportunity is narrow as temperatures are expected to rise to 4–7°C by Saturday, likely ending any natural-ice skating.