Amsterdam Keizersgracht canal closed for ice-skating

Puffin13 · Post by **Puffin13** » Sat 3rd Jan 2009 08:47 am

Amsterdam Keizersgracht canal closed for ice-skating
December 31 2008

For the first time in 12 years, it may be possible that people can skate on ice in the canals of Amsterdam.

Due to the mild winters in the past decades, the canals in the centre of Amsterdam have not frozen for the last 12 years.

Traditionally, of the 17th century canals, only the Keizersgracht canal has been closed for all boats, in order to make it possible that a secure layer of ice builds. The other canals will be kept open, in order to protect the houseboats and to facilitate tourist tour boats and freight ships.

Ice-skating is one of the favourite pastimes of the Dutch.

It has been freezing now for a number of days in Amsterdam, and it is expected that - if the freezing continues - in a few days (in the weekend) the ice will be safe enough for skating.

Skating on natural ice already is going on in other parts of the Netherlands. Usually, waters in the centre of towns freeze over later, as water in towns is warmer than in the countryside.

Skate factories are very busy these days, as most shops have not created a stock of skates, because of the warmer climate.

The last time ice-skating was possible on the Keizersgracht, was in 1997.

Source

Bhang Buddie · Post by **Bhang Buddie** » Sat 3rd Jan 2009 08:55 am

I can believe that totally - it was EFF-IN WELL BRASS MONKEY TIME while we were there,

all I could do was keep sitting in the nearest CS

milehigh · Post by **milehigh** » Sat 3rd Jan 2009 04:24 pm

Bhang Buddie and Courtjester can ignore this post.

Today on teletext I saw that the Meyer Rountdtrip boat tours was ignoring the ban with a complete disrespect for the local culture and breaking through the ice on the Keizersgracht. They have ruined the chance of ice skating in the canals in Amsterdam for the near future. Only if we have a very deep freeze making the ice thick enough over night to keep the boats from breaking through. I got a pair of used skates the other day and will try the pond in Vondel Park first I think.

Bhang Buddie · Post by **Bhang Buddie** » Sat 3rd Jan 2009 04:45 pm

milehigh wrote:....will try the pond in Vondel Park first I think.

I'd agree with that - yes, MH, I know you said ignore it

but I get cofnused

bom Shiva