Slow skating style ‘schoonrijden’ on Dutch cultural heritage list

Schoonrijden, a slow-glide form of outdoor skating, sometimes in national costume, is to be included on the Dutch national heritage list.

The Dutch centre for folk culture said on Tuesday the skating form, which was a popular hobby in the 19th century, is to be included on the Dutch immaterial heritage list.

A precursor of figure and speed skating, the first competition for schoonrijden took place on Amsterdam’s Keizersgracht in 1879 and only women were allowed to take part. Men joined in four years later and since 1942, couples can enter competitions.

The Zundert Bloemencorso flower parade, the Boxmeerse Vaart procession and the Sint Maartens celebrations in Utrecht are already included on the Dutch immaterial heritage list.

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