If the people of Friesland start clearing snow from the ice, there could be an Elfstedentocht – the marathon round Friesland skating race, weatherman Harry Otten told Dutch world service radio.

The nights will be cold enough to grow the ice over the next few days, but the snow acts as insulating layer and needs to be removed, Otten said.
‘If the Frisians get going and clear the snow, then we could be skating on December 28,’ he said.
The Elfstedentocht is a 200km race around the 11 cities of Friesland which was last held in 1997. As well as professionals, some 15,000 amateur skaters take part.