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Step onto the ice and discover the legendary Dutch skating race! Eleven historic cities, 200 kilometers of natural ice, and a fever that grips an entire nation.
Rookie Skater 0–4 · Ice Enthusiast 5–8 · Master of the Eleven 9–10
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Leeuwarden is the proud capital of the province of Friesland and serves as both the starting line and the final destination of the tour. The race begins in the freezing dark of the early morning, usually around 5:30 AM, with thousands of skaters rushing onto the ice.
Photo: Baykedevries, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Henk Angenent won the 15th Elfstedentocht on January 4, 1997. Since then, winters have not been cold enough to freeze the whole route to the required safety thickness of about 15 centimeters, which has only made the race more legendary.
Photo: Brbbl, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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The 1963 race is known as 'The Hell of '63'. Out of nearly 10,000 starters, only 127 made it to the finish line due to extreme cold, gale-force winds, and blowing snow. Many participants suffered severe frostbite, and the dramatic event was later turned into a feature film.
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The future king rode the 200 kilometers under the pseudonym 'W.A. van Buren'. He successfully crossed the finish line, and his parents, Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus, surprised him at the finish. The surname 'Van Buren' is a traditional alias used by the Dutch royals when they want to go unnoticed.
Photo: European Union, Wikimedia Commons, Attribution.
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These three Frisian words are the most exciting words a Dutch sports fan can hear. When the chairman of the association utters them to the press, it means the ice has passed all safety checks and the race is officially declared to start in 48 hours.
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Skaters carry a special cardboard card that must be hand-stamped in every single one of the eleven cities. There are also secret checkpoints along the route to prevent anyone from taking a shortcut or cheating. If you miss even one stamp, you don't get the coveted cross medal.
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This is known as 'klunen' in Dutch. Skaters must step off the ice onto wooden boards or carpets laid over the roads and walk or jog to the next frozen section. It is exhausting because skate blades are not designed for walking, and it dulls the sharp edges quickly.
Photo: Rob Croes for Anefo, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
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Bartlehiem is a tiny hamlet near the turning point at Dokkum, so the skaters pass it twice: once on the way north and once on the way back. That makes it one of the most famous spots of the tour, where big crowds gather on the ice to cheer.
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Sloten is the smallest of the eleven historic Frisian cities, boasting a beautiful old windmill and canals. Even though it has only a few hundred residents, it holds official city rights, which is why it is a mandatory stop on the legendary skating loop.
Photo: Udo Ockema, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
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Minne Hoekstra won the inaugural race in 1909, completing the course in 13 hours and 50 minutes. Back then, the ice was rough, the gear was basic, and there were only 22 brave participants. Today, the race limit is capped at around 16,000 skaters for safety reasons.
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