Youth in Amsterdam are learning to skate at a historically significant location where Jaap Eden became world skating champion in 1893.
The official launch of the Sven Kramer Academy Museumplein took place on December 2, marking the start of an initiative to introduce children to skating. Sven Kramer, the academy’s namesake, attended the celebratory opening. The event was part of the Dutch Youth Skating Day, organized by the Sven Kramer Academy (SKA) in collaboration with Unox, Jumbo, and Essent. Around 450 primary school children from Amsterdam had the opportunity to experience skating in an accessible manner.
With the Museumplein location, the SKA has expanded its activities to Amsterdam. Youth skating lessons will be held from December 15 to January 29, targeting children aged 4 to 10 at the Museumplein ice rink. Sven Kramer said, “It is wonderful that our Academy can not only help children take their first skating steps on the historic Museumplein, where Jaap Eden made skating history as the first all-round world champion, but also genuinely teach them how to skate. This site steeped in skating history allows us to share both the joy and fundamentals of the sport with Amsterdam’s youth, making a meaningful investment in the next generation.”
The Museumplein also saw the debut of the skating bus sponsored by Essent. This electric bus, supported by SKA and the Youth Education Fund, helps bring children who might otherwise not have access to skating to the ice rinks. The bus transports school groups free of charge to the Dutch Youth Skating Days and back to school. In December, this pilot project will operate routes to ice rinks in Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Utrecht, and Rotterdam.
Separately, the ISU World Cup 3 event at Thialf from December 5 to 7 will highlight the Orange the World campaign, aimed at ending violence against women and girls. The Heerenveen municipality will participate in this global UN Women initiative by raising awareness through the stadium speaker during intermissions. The arena lighting will turn orange, and the audience will be invited to raise a hand during the song “We Will Rock You” as a solidarity symbol. QR codes will also be displayed for donations. Further information about the campaign is available on the UN Women website.
Source: Schaatsen.nl, Netherlands
