This morning, several ice skating rinks across the Netherlands opened for the season after a night of mild frost combined with clear skies.
According to the Dutch news outlet NOS, temperatures during the night ranged between -3 to -6 degrees Celsius, which was not severe frost but enough to allow ice formation. Ice associations in locations such as De Lier, Noordwijk, Oosterbeek, and Tolbert confirmed their rinks were open. In some cases, water had been sprayed in layers overnight to build up the ice thickness.
In Tolbert, a village in the province of Groningen, a newly constructed asphalt rink laid three weeks ago now supports about 1.5 centimeters of ice. Hedde Wieringa, chairman of the local ice association, described the conditions as “completely fine” for skating, although it had not yet reached the optimal quality they aim for. The Tolbert rink is expected to remain open throughout the day, while others anticipate closing by midday due to rising temperatures.
Despite the absence of severe frost, the clear night sky created suitable conditions described as a bit of magic by ice clubs, allowing skating enthusiasts to enjoy outdoor activities during the holiday period. Regional reports indicate that skating took place in Winterswijk and other towns as well, with conditions continuing to be monitored as temperatures rise.
