When can you skate in Giethoorn?
Skating on natural ice is only possible after a number of days of frost. Frost is the most important factor for ice growth. Snow and wind play a part too, because snow on the ice slows its growth. Whether the ice is strong enough also differs from place to place and from one body of water to another. The KNSB, the Royal Dutch Skating Association, therefore advises against going out on a single night of ice, unless a club has laid out an ice rink.
You skate in Giethoorn at your own risk. Nobody guarantees that a particular canal or lake is safe. That is why this article gives no figure for ice thickness: different sources name different minimum thicknesses, and the KNSB refers to the local ice club for the judgement.
Where do people skate in Giethoorn?
During a long frost, people skate on the canals and the lakes around the village. The Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour) does not pass here, but skating on your own is a normal winter activity when the ice allows it. Natuurmonumenten, the Dutch nature conservation organisation, writes about the nature reserve De Wieden, which Giethoorn borders, that with some luck you can skate on the ditches, canals and lakes. You can read more about that area at Weerribben-Wieden National Park.
Bear in mind that the ice does not freeze or become passable everywhere at the same time. A canal in the village can be different from a large lake, and near bridges, plants and branches the ice is often less reliable. The KNSB tips via Weerplaza (a Dutch weather site) explicitly mention these places as something to watch out for.
The ice club and the municipality
The KNSB says that the quality of natural ice differs per region and that the best thing to do is ask the local ice club whether the ice is safe. At natural ice associations, ice masters look after quality and safety. According to an article from 2001, IJsclub Giethoorn (Giethoorn Ice Club) was formed in 1951 from two skating associations. The club works in the lake area around Giethoorn, Blokzijl and Dwarsgracht and consulted the fire brigade and emergency services at ice events. Whether and how the club now assesses the ice is something to ask the club itself.
Current notices about the ice can be found at the municipality of Steenwijkerland. We found no fixed rules from the municipality for skating on the canals, so rely on the judgement of the ice club and on your own assessment on the spot.
Safety on natural ice
The advice below comes from the KNSB and from Weerplaza, which bases itself on the KNSB.
- Never go out on the ice alone. Go with at least two people and tell someone at home where you are going to skate.
- Ask the ice club whether the ice nearby is safe, and ask other skaters you meet along the way too.
- Take a safety kit with a rope, ice picks, an ice pole and a whistle. You can use the ice pole to test the thickness of the ice.
- Wear a helmet, cut-resistant gloves and wrist guards. Broken wrists are the most common injury in falls.
- Be careful near bridges, plants and branches.
- Do not skate in the dark or when there is snow on the ice.
- Do not use your phone while skating, and keep it in a waterproof cover.
- Dress in layers and bring spare clothes.
If you fall through the ice, ice picks help you pull yourself out. In an emergency, call 112.
What do you do if there is no ice?
If there is not enough ice, there is still plenty to do in winter. An open rental boat is not advisable in cold weather, and no canal cruise boat sails when there is ice. The article 7 things to do in winter in Giethoorn gives ideas for a day without skating. A walk through the village is also an option, see walking in Giethoorn. After skating, you can warm up at one of the cafés and restaurants in the village, as you can see on eating and drinking in Giethoorn.
