The sound of crunching ice, a cold wind blowing past your face, floating over the ice. The sound of cracking ice, a bleak wind past your face, floating across the ice. What skating rinks are there in the Netherlands? Below you will find the nicest, most beautiful or most special places to skate.
1. Skating rink Railway Museum Utrecht
Photo via Spoorwegmuseum.nl
From the 23rd of December 2023 until the 7th of January 2024, Winter Station will contain cozy lights, Christmas decorations and an antique carousel. This will bring the entire Railway Museum into a wonderful winter atmosphere. With the highlight being the opportunity to skate between the trains!
During Winter Station, the museum breathes a special and magical atmosphere. And who can claim to have skated between the oldest trains in the Netherlands! A variety of cake and cookies are available at Winter Station. From poffertjes, oliebollen, a delicious cup of snert to free marshmallows that can be roasted over the fire! There is a daily different program with music and activities for children. It is a real outing for the family, but also definitely an atmospheric place for a day out with friends or colleagues!
Want to make a whole weekend of it? Stay overnight at Stayokay Utrecht Centrum to experience even more of the beautiful city and its history, beauty and above all atmosphere!
2. Skating rink Rotterdam
From the 25th of November 2023 to the 24th of February 2024, you can enjoy skating again in Rotterdam. Get your skates out of the grease, have them sharpened and get that winter hat from the attic! The rink is fully covered, so even in old-fashioned Dutch weather, you'll be fine on Skating Rink Rotterdam! This cover is also what makes the Rotterdam ice rink so special, as it consists of lanes with rainbow colored lights! The rainbow lights of the 400 meter rink are on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 16:00. So come and enjoy 'Disco' skating!
And did you know that you can find a super-unique hostel in the famous Rotterdam Cube Houses? The perfect location to visit the Market Halls and to see the Erasmus Bridge after your skating adventure!
3. Ice rink Scheveningen
Ice skating on the beach is certainly an option! From the 11th of November 2023 until the 11th of February 2024, you can enjoy skating at Scheveningen ice rink. With no less than 600m2 of covered ice, there is more than enough room to practice those pirouettes tricks! Afterwards, there are plenty of places along the beach to eat something tasty and warm up.
Do you feel like adding another day? Stay the night in Stayokay Den Haag. In less than half an hour's travelling you will find yourself at the beautiful coast. Then you can spend the next day shopping in the city centre!
4. Skating rink in Breda
Enjoy free skating with swinging music, skating lessons or a skating party. At Kunstijsbaan Breda it's all possible! With thousands of m2 of ice there is enough space and fun for everyone. Even the the citizens of Zeeland come here for the marathon skating championships! Are you going to skate a round just for fun, or will we find you on a competitive skating course? All is possible in Breda from the 7th of October!
5. Skating rink Haarlem
The professional IJsbaan Haarlem is perfect for the beginning ice skater and the real diehards. On the indoor rink you can make your first steps, play ice hockey or improve your skills. From pirouettes to leg over in every corner: it's all possible at the ice rink in Haarlem! Skating at the ice rink in Haarlem is possible as of Spetember 30.
Plan a day of ice skating in combination with a visit to Stayokay Haarlem. The next day, you will have time to explore the old city centre or have a nice dinner in one of the many restaurants in the city.
6. Floating skating rink in Leiden
Photo via Unity.nu
In leiden this winter you can go to several places to skate a round! In the center of Leiden there is a floating ice rink on the Nieuwe Rijn from December 9th! Unfortunately, this ice rink is only there for a short time, you can enjoy this winter activity in the historic center of Leiden until January 7th, 17:00! The Floating Ice Rink is open daily from 10:00-21:00.
Fortunately, there is also the Schaatshal Leiden, where you can go from October 7, 2023 to drive laps on the 250-meter long track! In this ice hall, which was renovated this year, you will find an Indoor rink, a Raised rink and a Fun rink!
Can't get enough of winter?
We also collected the most beautiful, special, or fun Christmas markets in The Netherlands, and the best tips for a great winter!
