What is the Elfstedentocht?
Q: What is the Elfstedentocht?
A: The Elfstedentocht is a race for people on ice skates that takes place on canals in Friesland in the north of the Netherlands.
Q: How long is the route of the race?
A: The route of the race is nearly 200 kilometers long and goes through eleven towns in Friesland.
Q: When can the Elfstedentocht be held?
A: The Elfstedentocht can only be held in winters when it has been cold enough to freeze the canals to enough depth to make it safe for skating on.
Q: Where does the Elfstedentocht start and finish?
A: The Elfstedentocht starts and finishes in Leeuwarden, the capital city of Friesland.
Q: How many times has the Elfstedentocht been held?
A: The Elfstedentocht has been held 15 times, with the first year in 1909 and the most recent race on 4 January 1997.
Q: How thick does the ice on the canals have to be for the race to take place?
A: The ice on the canals has to be at least 15 centimeters thick for the race to take place.
Q: How tough is the Elfstedentocht?
A: The Elfstedentocht is a very tough race, although some years the race has been tougher than others, depending on the weather conditions. In 1963, an extremely cold winter, only one in 100 people who took part managed to finish the race. Medals are given to the first 11 men and the first 5 women.
