The first speed skating marathon on natural ice this season will be held on Friday evening in Winterswijk, after organisers confirmed late on Thursday that the ice was thick enough to race.

Dutch skating union KNSB had said there was a strong chance of a natural-ice marathon this weekend, but warned that conditions were still uncertain and that Saturday seemed more likely.

However, late on Thursday evening the Winterswijkse ice club gave the green light for a race on Friday.

Winterswijk also hosted the first natural-ice marathon last year. The weather isexpected to remain cold on Friday morning, with temperatures rising slightly above freezing in the afternoon before dipping back below zero for the evening race.

Elsewhere in the country, the frost has allowed skating on several other artificial outdoor rinks and keen skaters have been out in force.

Check out which rinks are open here.

In the Ryptsjerksterpolder in Friesland, a number of people ventured onto genuine natural ice earlier on Friday.

The KNMI weather bureau says it will be several degrees above freezing on Saturday and Sunday but will remain frosty at night, although there will be more cloud around.