Overview
- The KNSB confirmed sufficient ice at WIJV in Winterswijk, scheduling the season’s first natural-ice marathon with women at 18:00 and men at 19:30.
- Dozens of local rinks opened on Second Christmas Day, including in Doorn, Zeist, Baambrugge, Noordlaren and multiple sites across Drenthe.
- Volunteers worked through the night to spray and harden ice, and venues like Winterswijk used a white-coated track, insulation and an automatic sprayer to speed formation.
- Forecasters expect a midday thaw of about 1–3°C today and warmer conditions over the weekend, likely shortening the outdoor skating window.
- Puttershoek’s Kees Verkerkbaan opened at 10:00 for public skating with a latest closing time of 17:00 and conditions monitored for safety, while Doorn reported roughly 500 early skaters.