In the north of the Netherlands, people laced up their skates on Boxing day and headed out on the ice.
After the south of the Netherlands saw a few flakes of snow on Christmas, the north was cold enough on Sunday to allow winter sport lovers to skate on ice.
Ice rink De Meent, the ice rink in Alkmaar, you are probably familiar with it.
Skating on the semi-covered 400-meter track with the sun on your face gives you that wonderful winter sports feeling.
The Christmas period is traditionally the time to put on ice skates with the whole family.
This Christmas is also possible at the Alkmaar ice rink De Meent.
With the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the ice rink is open throughout the holiday.
Pre-booking is required and can be done via the website,
https://www.demeentalkmaar.nl/vakantie
Now that sports facilities have to close their doors every day from 5 p.m.,
De Meent will be open from 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday during the holidays.
The other days skaters can go here from 9.00 am.
The ice rink is open on Boxing Day.
They are closed for recreational skating on New Year’s Day.
The Dutch National Championships Marathon can be followed live via the NOS and on m
https://www.notrax.eu/message-matten-nl?___store=notrax_eu_nl
Visitors are requested to wear a face mask in the hall and next to the track. In addition, everyone is asked to keep 1,5 meters away both on and off the track.
In Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen, the ice was three to five centimeters thick thanks to temperatures around minus seven degrees Celsius at night.
In Drenthe, volunteers worked until 3 a.m. on Sunday despite a temperature feel of minus 13 degrees to get the ice ready for the 9 a.m. opening time.
There was space for up to 175 people at once on the rink. The rink closed has to close at 5 p.m. due to coroanvirus restrictions.
Tomorrow the ice will likely have melted again with temperatures up to ten degrees.
