Winterswijk ice rink sets record with 16 public days, 18 skateable days this winter

The outdoor ice rink in Winterswijk opened to the public Sunday morning for the 16th time this winter, setting a record in the five-year history of the facility on Bataafseweg. Officials reported the total number of skateable days this season has already reached 18 because of an earlier marathon on natural ice.

The rink opened at 8:30 a.m., and within an hour, hundreds of people were skating, according to the Winterswijkse IJsvereniging, or WIJV, which operates the 400-meter track. “We are very satisfied,” said ice master Hendrik van Prooije of WIJV.

The milestone opening was supported by freezing temperatures and technical improvements to the rink, including a white top layer added last year. Van Prooije said the white surface reduces the impact of solar radiation, allowing the ice to cool faster and remain usable longer.

The rink also hosted a visit on Sunday from ice skating club Hard Gaat-ie from De Lier in the Westland region, which Van Prooije described as a major influence on those changes. “Our great source of inspiration,” he said. “They pointed out to us that we can spray better and explained the effect of using white.”

Earlier in January, the rink was open on the 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, allowing smaller groups of skaters to enjoy the ice under mild winter temperatures. On January 25, the rink reopened for the second Sunday of the month, attracting hundreds of skaters of all ages.

Many skaters practiced and played on the beginner track, while the 400-meter track was used by both experienced and less-experienced skaters, the rink reported.

How long the rink can remain open will depend entirely on weather conditions, Van Prooije said. “At the moment, it is still freezing,” he said. “We will see how long we can keep it going. We hope to extend the record number of public skating days.”

In addition to the 16 days the rink has been open to the public, WIJV hosted the first natural-ice marathon of the winter season on December 26. The rink was closed to the public for two days to accommodate the event.