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All the Eleven cities tour (Elfstedentocht) info straight from the province Friesland!
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11 City Skating Race? (Elfstedentocht)

The 'Elfstedentocht' at almost 200 kilometres (120 mi), is a traditional Dutch speed skating match (with 200 contestants) and a leisure skating tour (with 16,000 skaters). It is held in the province of Friesland in the north of the Netherlands, touching each and every city (by history) of the province. It is held, in practice in January or February and not more than once in a year, when the natural ice along the entire course is at least 15 centimetres (6 in) thick; sometimes on consecutive years, other times with gaps that may exceed 20 years. When the ice is suitable the tour is announced, and starts within 48 hours.
Source KV De Friesche Elf Steden.

Statistics

  • 200km (120mi) long: The tour goes through villages, cities, forrest and meadows.
  • Race meats eleven cities: De eleven cities in Friesland that got town privileges.
  • 56.314 medals: Since 1909, 56.314 medals (elfstedenkruisjes) have been received.
  • Last tour on jan 14th 1997: Relatively harsh. Wind force 5-6 en temp of -3/-6 (C).
  • 15 times: Till now, 15 races have been organized. (first race was held in 1909).
  • Last winners: Henk Angenent (M) en Klasina Seinstra (F) are the winners of last race.
  • 6 hours, 47min: The fastest race ever skated in 1985 by Evert van Benthum.
  • 16,000 contestors: The max number of contestors is around 16,000.
  • 1,000 a time: Each 10-15 min, 1000 skaters are admitted to the event.
Source wikipedia
Eleven city tour news
Eleven city tour tweets
The Elfstedenkruisje (medal)
The elfsteden cross [medal]

Every contestant that has completed the tour within the specified time and who has collected all the stamps, will receive a medal called the elfstedenkruisje. Also the winners of the race will receive a lot of (media) attention and gain a lot of popularity.

 Source: KV de Friesche Elfsteden
The route
route map elfstedentocht

Leeuwarden, the capitol of the province Fryslân is the starting and finish point of the race since the early days. The Race will bring the skaters accordingly to Sneek, IJlst, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Bolsward, Harlingen, Franeker, Dokkum and back to Leeuwarden again.

Source map: de telegraaf

Current Elfsteden weather

Sneek22km
IJlst26km
Sloten40km
Stavoren66km
Hindeloopen77km
Workum86km
Bolsward99km
Harlingen116km
Franeker129km
Dokkum174km
Leeuwarden199km

Latest news

Timeline 100 years Elfstedentocht

Source: Timerime.com / sportgeschiedenis.nl
The Eleven cities race

The eleven cities race, at almost 200 kilometers (120 mi). From city to city, crossing lakes and ditches. Passing meadows and going underneath tiny bridges. 100,000 visitors face the elements, cheering skaters passing by on the route.

Source: KV de Friesche Elfsteden
Elfstedentocht 1963

On januari 18th, 1963 the 12th race was organized. This was the most harsh, and one of the coldest races in history. Many will remember this race because this was the first time ever that there was a live coverage on radio and television.

Books about the Elfstedentocht
[ Source: Bol.com ]
The stamps collecting card
The stamps collecting card

Each contestant will receive a stamp collecting card Elke deelnemer ontvangt bij inschrijving een stempelkaart. In de steden en op een aantal geheime plekken zijn controleposten ingericht. Daar moeten de wedstrijd- en de toerrijders persoonlijk hun stempelkaart tonen die vervolgens - handmatig! - wordt afgestempeld.

KV de Friesche Elfsteden
Police arrests during Elfstedentocht 1963
Dropped out skaters in 1963

During the race of 1963, hundreds or perhaps a thousand skaters have aborted the race early before reaching the cities Harlingen or Franeker. Most of them voluntarily, but some under duress. In Franeker even some skaters were put in jail.

Source: Sportgeschiedenis.nl
Stamps
full stamps collecting card

Is this the year that the stamps collecting card will be replaced with a electronic card? Some skaters have lost the right for a medal (elfstedenkruisje) because they missed some necessary stamps on their card.

KV de Friesche Elfsteden
Historical skating quiz

Attend the historical skating quiz on Geschiedenis24.nl (in Dutch)

Doe de historische schaatsquiz!
First Elfstedentocht in 1909
participants of the elfstedentocht in 1909

In the end of 1908 the race was called up on a to be determined date. There would be the oportunity to sign up for the race untill the 5th of January. But when it kept freezing and the ice was tested to be good, the race was advanced quickly. A new end date for signing up quickly was set on januari 1st. Skaters who waited till new years day were late for joining the race. Even subscribers on the last day of the year even were not accepted for unknown reasons. In the end, only 48 skaters had signed up in time. On the day of the race a sudden thaw caused the majority of the skaters to abort the race. Finaly, the 23 skaters left to race who reported to the start at hotel Amicitia at Leeuwarden were told they had to use their own pleasure...

Source: Geschiedenis24.nl
10 awesome stories during one century Elfstedentocht


  1. De bad story of 1947
  2. De film images of 1917
  3. De winner having birthday of 1985 and 1986
  4. The Elfstedentocht with Pim Mulier of 1890
  5. The women of the Elfstedentocht
  6. The Netherlands escaped from a dissaster in 1963
  7. Winner of 1933 complaints
  8. The bond of Dokkum in 1940
  9. Sports journalist almost wins the first Elfstedentocht
  10. The harsh Elfstedentocht of 1942
Source: elfstedenwiki vpro
Elfstedentocht 1933

The fifth Elfstedentocht in 1933 has had 173 competitors of which 160 made it to the finish. Abe de Vries from the city Dronrijp and Sipke Castelein from Wartnena were the first to finish and it took them 9 hours and 53 minutes.

Polygoonjournaal from 1954

Long before media and marketing hyping the Elfstedentocht, Holland have been under the spell of de 'race of races'. Watch the early broadcasts of the news (polygoonjournaal) from 1933, 1942, 1947 and 1954.

Willpower on skates (1970)

A unique movie from Anton Stoelwinder from 1970, especialy because of an interview with Jacon Haye Kaastra, participant of the first Elfstedentocht in 1909. Later on completed with frames of the race in 1985.

Source: Geschiedenis24.nl
11 cities races in sound and images

Twenty hours of old elfstedentochten! Choose from following four categories:


participants of the first elfstedentocht in 1909
  1. Elfsteden movies and documentarries of the Public network (1963 - 1997)
  2. Elfstedentocht races filmed by Polygoon (1929 - 1963)
  3. Elfstedentocht movies from special collections (local en regional - since 1917)
  4. The Elfstedentocht on radio in reports en documentarries (since 1954)
Source: Geschiedenis24.nl