Good news for skating enthusiasts: the ice rink has been rebuilt on the Koopmansplein in Assen. You can skate on working days in the provincial capital until 8 January.
Due to the high energy prices, it became a feat this year to return the ice rink. Especially since the track is built on an elevation, which means that wind can get under the track and cold air is lost.
“It has certainly been a challenge. We already started with network power last year, so no more generators. That was the first step and then we moved on,” says organizer Fenny Wijnholds.
To save even more energy, a kind of skirt has been placed around the track. “This skirt consists of fabric and wood. In this way we keep the cold at the rink and prevent warm air from blowing under the rink,” explains Wijnholds.
The organization has even more sustainable plans for the future. Next year, the possibilities of heating the adjacent café will be examined. This must be done with the warm air that is needed to cool the track. That heat is now lost.
Reporter Marjorie Noë was at the opening of the ice rink in Assen (text continues below the video):