Dutch skaters out in force to enjoy the ice – before it melts

Skating in the morning sunshine at the De Hondsrug outdoor rink in Noordlaren. Photo: ANP/Hollandse Hoogt/ Van Oost Media

The combination of sunshine, frost and the school holidays brought out the crowds in the few places in the Netherlands where outdoor ice rinks were open for a time on Monday.

The temperature fell to as low as -8° in sheltered places on Sunday night, allowing ice clubs to get ready for a day’s skating.

The fun is likely to be short lived as the temperature is set to rise above freezing by the early afternoon. However, there are good hopes that the skaters can return on Monday evening and again on Tuesday morning, as more frost is on its way overnight.

Skating hopefuls who turned up at the Ryptsjerksterpolder in Friesland, which is always one of the first areas of open water where skating is possible were disappointed, as there was no more than 15 millimetres of ice, broadcaster NOS said.

The weather is set to turn much warmer by the middle of the week.

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