After a few days of freezing weather, the fun on the ice will likely end after Thursday. Many people have been lacing up their shoes this week for a spin on the ice. “Natural ice is the most beautiful. I try to capture every moment.”
Jasper Quispel (44) is sitting on the grass at the edge of the ice in the Nieuwe Driemanspolder near Zoetermeer. He just finished an hour of skating and now has to get back to work.
Did the boss approve of him going ice skating for an hour? “I’m the boss,” she says, laughing. He comes from nearby Leidschendam and couldn’t resist the temptation to put on some shoes.
About twenty people skate on the ice of the Nieuwe Driemanspolder. It is normally full of geese and ducks, but they have sought refuge elsewhere.
“Natural ice is the most beautiful. Due to climate change, it is obviously becoming rarer and rarer to be able to skate on natural ice. So I try to capture every moment,” says Quispel.
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Drone images show ice skaters in Friesland at dawn
Let’s hope the skates arrive on time
He may return in the afternoon with his two children, aged seven and eleven. Even if the eldest doesn’t have skates yet. “I ordered them quickly, so I hope they arrive this afternoon,” Quispel says.
He was satisfied with the quality of the ice. “But I didn’t go any further into the lake. I’m not much of a pioneer,” he says, the ice making a nice crunching noise as a couple skates.
Crowd on the ice of Maarsseveense Plassen. Photo: Job van der Plicht
Even with the bike on ice
In Utrecht it is much busier on some of the foothills of the Maarsseveense Plassen than in Zoetermeer. Dozens of cars are parked in the grass along the street and skaters come and go.
Ice cream lovers don’t enjoy this last chance just momentarily while out and about. There is ice hockey and parents drag young children on sleds. For a moment someone even rides a racing bicycle on the frozen lake.
21-year-old Jordi from Breukeleveen skated there for the second day. In the afternoon he will go skating in Utrecht and then the fun on the ice will probably end.
“Natural ice continues to provide a different incentive,” he says. “I play ice hockey, but outside you have a lot more freedom. I want to enjoy it to the fullest.”
Even ice can be nice when you’re working. So a boat is not necessary Photo: Job van der Plicht
Reported sick at school
In fact, the student was supposed to go to school today, but he couldn’t resist the call of ice and called in sick. “No, I haven’t met any acquaintances yet. Of course they all go to school,” he says, smiling.
Near a bridge, a mechanic lies on the ice in an orange jacket. Next to him is a toolbox. Check the sensors of a weir.
He normally needs a boat for this job, but now he can do it just by lying on the ice. When it is pointed out to the man that he is almost thawing out, his colleague, who is still on the sidelines, laughs. “We’ll be ready in half an hour,” he shouts.
After Thursday skating on ditches and lakes will probably end for the time being and the skates can be lubricated. Although Jordi from Breukeleveen hopes to be back on natural ice within a few weeks. “It’s still early in the year. I hope it freezes hard again in February, so we still have a good week of ice.”
2024-01-11 18:06:00
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