An exhibition about the Dutch Elfstedentocht is currently on display in Milan, aiming to share the history and culture of ice skating with an Italian audience during the Winter Olympic Games.
NOS, the Netherlands
The exhibition, titled Storia e Gloria, opened in a 17th-century villa on the outskirts of Milan and will be on view for twelve days. Organized by Marco Lubbers, a 38-year-old enthusiast from Sneek in the Netherlands, the showcase brings elements of traditional Dutch skating culture into an Italian setting. Visitors are greeted with a sign reading ‘L’Elfstedentocht’ upon entering, introducing them to the event’s rich history.
Lubbers, who has a lifelong interest in speed skating, was invited by the Dutch consulate in Italy to assemble the exhibition. The initiative is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which aims to highlight the nation’s significant role in the history of skating to an Italian audience. The exhibition coincides with ongoing discussions about the potential hosting of long-track speed skating events in the Netherlands as part of the 2030 Winter Olympics, with plans to hold competitions at Heerenveen’s Thialf ice stadium.
Attendance at the opening included politicians, representatives from the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF), and Avine Fokkens, mayor of Heerenveen. Among the displayed artifacts is the stamp card of Willem-Alexander, the current king of the Netherlands, disguised under the pseudonym W.A. van Buren during his 1986 Elfstedentocht participation. Photographs of Sven Kramer, the skating suit of Ans Schut, and early versions of clapskates also feature in the exhibition.
Lubbers expressed hope that the exhibition would inspire visitors to take to the ice. While talking with two Italian police officers at the event, he emphasized the role of sport in bringing different countries together as a shared cultural activity.
