Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Ice skating on Amsterdam canals
Skaters in Amsterdam take to the canals after a cold snap. Feb. 13, 2012. - Credit: photo: Zack Newmark / NL Times
Nature
winter
weather
ice skating
natural ice
Amsterdam
waternet
canal
Friday, 23 February 2018 - 08:15
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Approaching cold snap has Amsterdam skaters hopeful

With freezing temperatures hitting the Netherlands in the coming days, Amsterdam skating enthusiasts are hopeful that they may have a chance to get out onto the canals again. The last time the canals froze enough for skating, was in 2012, Het Parool reports.

Waternet closes a number of canals to sailing traffic at the first layer of ice and prediction of night frost. These mostly involve canals on the west side of the city, including the Princengracht and parts of the Keizergracht. If more than five consecutive nights of moderate to severe frost is expected, and daytime temperatures also drop below zero, Waternet closes all canals in the city, according to the newspaper.

A number of pumping stations outside the city have already been turned off, so that skaters can get onto natural ice rinks like Kortenhoef ad Aneveense Plassen as quickly as possible.

Weeronline predicts that temperatures will drop significantly in the coming days. From early next week, night time temperatures may even dip below -10 degrees, and day time temps won't climb above freezing.

Weerplaza expects that it will be possible to skate on shallow ditches from Tuesday, but sees little chance of the canals freezing enough to skate on. Ice will form quickly overnight, but melt away in the sun during the day. The strong wind also makes it difficult for the water to freeze completely closed.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Boris Johnson allegedly planned military raid on Dutch Covid-19 vaccine factory
  • Expensive December month puts nearly 40% of NL residents in financial difficulties
  • Dusting of snow in parts of Netherlands; Many flights canceled, warning for icy roads
  • Shots fired in Alphen aan den Rijn; Two hurt
  • New NS timetable starts Sunday; More trains running between cities
  • Formation leader hopes to get talks going in meeting with Wilders' dream team

Top stories

  • Shots fired in Alphen aan den Rijn; Two hurt
  • New NS timetable starts Sunday; More trains running between cities
  • Formation leader hopes to get talks going in meeting with Wilders' dream team
  • Russian research ships used for espionage purposes sighted off the Dutch coast
  • Three people, including two children, killed in car accident on the A1
  • Red Cross called in to help with reception of asylum seekers in Ter Apel

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content