DutchNews.nl - Skaters warned to keep off open water

Skaters should keep off lakes and canals because the ice is still not strong enough for outdoor skating, despite two nights of heavy frost, the Dutch skating association KNSB said on Monday.

Websites set up by skating enthusiasts refer to dozens of places where the ice is 'reasonable to good' but the KNSB says much of the ice is still unreliable.

For official outdoor skating tours, the ice must be at least 12 cm thick. The snow and ice left over from the pre-Christmas freeze have also lead to many weak spots in the ice cover, the KNSB said.

In Amsterdam, the city council has banned pleasure boats from using many city centre canals in the hope that they too will freeze over for skating.

The big freeze is set to continue for the next five days at least, and there is an 80% chance of it continuing for the next 10, according to the KNMI weather bureau.

But the continuing snow makes it unlikely the ice will thicken enough for an Elfstedentocht - the spectacular 200 km race between the 11 cities of Friesland. The event was last held in 1997.

'In fact, it first needs to thaw so that the old, bad quality ice disappears. And then if it freezes again and does not snow, you'll get ice that is strong enough,' Ron Wiersma of weather bureau Meteoconsult told the Volkskrant.

I'm sure the Dutch love it, but coming from Texas, all I do when I think about how cold it has to be to be able to ice skate, is shiver. Nasty. No thanks. Brrrrr.

By The Cat Lady | January 4, 2010 4:07 PM

Having lived in Texas....I can understand the reluctance of The Cat Lady to even try skating on ice. After all,Texas has heat...and more heat, I'll take the Dutch Seasons!!

By HENK MEYER | January 4, 2010 5:49 PM

We have an expression in the UK.
It's not cold, you simply don't have the right clothes on.
Any scandinavian who makes to friesland will tell you that.

By Mr Eskimo | January 4, 2010 11:08 PM

Coming from Minnesota, I can vouch for that Mr Eskimo! I couldn't imagine not having all the beautiful seasons though. But, because I've never been to Holland in winter before, I left my winter coat and boots at home and thought I would be fine. man, did I get surprised! Live and learn I guess. We have many winter sports and activities to enjoy, and we like to say, Ice is never completely safe, so, listen to warnings and just use your good judgement.

By Kim | January 12, 2010 6:31 AM