DOORN, The Netherlands (AP) – A deep winter frost that encompasses the Netherlands is rehabilitating the national obsession with ice skating.
With sub-zero temperatures forecast to last more than a week, ice fever swept the nation on Tuesday, providing a welcome respite from gloomy news about the coronavirus, while creating a challenge for authorities trying to abide by the rules of social distancing.
People across the country rummaged through bridges and dusted long-unused skates, while businesses that sharpened skate blades reported boom times.
Ice skating is a national winter passion in the Netherlands, with elite spandex-clad athletes from the country dominating the winter Olympic speed skating races of recent years. Amateurs of all ages are looking forward to the Arctic conditions that allow them to go to the vast network of canals and waterways in the country.
But with the country in a tight coronavirus blockade, the prospect of a long-distance skating race in the northern province of Friesland, held for the first time since 1997, remains remote at best.
The association that organizes the Tour of the 11 cities over canals and frozen lakes said in January that “according to current coronavirus measures, it is not possible to organize” the almost mythical event. Since then, authorities have not relaxed measures beyond allowing elementary school students to return to classrooms this week.
The president of the association poured more cold water on people’s hopes on Tuesday, mentioning exactly what production the race normally involves.
“We are talking about a tournament with 1-1.5 million spectators, 25,000 participants, thousands of volunteers and half of the Netherlands on the road,” Wiebe Wieling told NOS national broadcaster. “Every person who thinks correctly will realize that such a thing is not possible” amid the pandemic.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte weighed in on Monday night’s debate, saying skating authorities could consider allowing natural ice racing if the country’s first 120 races go into a coronavirus bubble. But he also said that organizing an event with a large number of spectators could not be questioned, even if it is outdoors.
However, Rutte said the Dutch should make the most of the conditions as long as they last.
“Enjoy this beautiful weather and ice,” Rutte said. “But do it according to COVID-19 rules.”
The Dutch media reported several strong souls who risked skating on thin ice in parts of the Netherlands, but for now, temporary ice rinks were the safest place to face their skates.
Local schoolchildren visited the Doorn skating club, 65 kilometers southeast of Amsterdam, which created its rink by spraying water on an outdoor skating rink and building a uniform ice surface by pulling a Persian rug. around him.
The canals are expected to be frozen solid enough later in the week for people to skate. Authorities in Amsterdam have closed locks and banned boats on parts of the city’s canal ring, listed as a World Heritage Site, to give them a better chance of freezing.
However, the municipality also warned skaters to stay away from social distance and other coronavirus restrictions.
“The rules of the coronavirus for public places also apply on ice,” said City Hall.
Not only ice skating fans were preparing for the extreme cold.
A zoo in central Holland moved 15 penguins inside and outside the cold on Tuesday. Unlike their Antarctic cousins, black-footed penguins come from South Africa and Namibia and are not accustomed to such icy conditions, said Burgers Zoo.
Freezing conditions have also created natural ice sculptures in a marina in the village of Monnikendam, just north of Amsterdam on Lake Markermeer, with boats anchored there wrapped in swirling ice sheets.
Lines of wind-blown ice hung from the boat’s railings and ropes, and the ice covered a set of swings and children’s trees near the icy edge of the snow-covered lake.
“We live in the most beautiful painting of the seventeenth century,” said Rutte.
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Corder reported from The Hague, the Netherlands.