Elfstedentocht

I have to admit I have been swept up in the euphoria around a possible Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour), but with minimal ice growth the last few nights it's not looking likely is it?

Every year I get quite excited about the idea of being able to experience (albeit this year on a television due to three sprogs in tow) such a truly Dutch sporting event. The reason why escapes me because I am no ice skater myself. In fact, I can count on two fingers the number of times I have been on ice skates - both times in an English ice rink, and both times more than two decades ago. Both times I seem to recall a lot of bum bruising, cursing and death grips (whoever happened to be near to me when I was about to plunge to the ice). And yet I am fascinated by the idea of this 200km skating tour through Friesland. I'm as gripped by the idea as any Dutchman (or woman).

When the last tocht took place in 1997, I was in England, had never heard of the Elfstedentocht (and to be honestly knew very little about the Netherlands at all) and could not have imagined my annual interest in a potential ice tour through the Dutch northern province. In 2009, I was experiencing the Dutch euphoria when ice hits and even writing about the phenomena that is ice skating in the Netherlands - (Read When Holland Freezes Over).

How things change..... and how I hope I get to see an Elfstedentocht some day!

Check this video out to feel a little of the excitement around an Elfstedentocht: http://www.rnw.nl/english/video/skating-tour-1985-caught-film

For more info and to keep up to date with happenings this year: http://www.rnw.nl/english/dossier/elevencitiestour