Skating on natural ice in Zoetermeer: ​​’There is a happy egg here’

A clear blue sky, sun, freezing cold and a mirror-smooth natural ice rink. That requires a day off to go skating. This is what several Zoetermeer residents thought today; they flocked to the natural ice rink of the Zoetermeer Ice Skating Association in the Buytenpark. “It’s fantastic,” says committee member Daan den Hertog.

For two days, the members of the natural ice committee of the Zoetermeer Ice Skating Association worked hard to ensure a mirror-smooth rink for Zoetermeer skating fanatics. And it worked! On Wednesday morning, January 10, the ice master gave the green light to go onto the track.

Perfect weather conditions.

Chairman Daan de Jong looks proudly at the reflective track in the winter sun. “We do this for the skating enthusiasts in our city,” he says. “On days like this we see many people who are not members of our association. It is the recreationalists who like to skate on natural ice. I like to see that.”

Committee member Daan says: “We have never had such a great job. We are lucky with ideal weather conditions. Freezing cold, little wind and no snow. After only two days of frost we have this as a result. I think it is fantastic!”

Chattering skates

The members of the ice skating association were at the club building this morning at 8:30 am to receive the redeeming word from the ice master. “We had only just announced on social media that the rink was opening when I put on my skates,” says chairman Daan. “I like skating the first scratches in the ice on a pristine natural ice rink. Then you only hear the clapping of your skates and then I enjoy it to the fullest.”

Happy faces

In front of the skating rink, visitors can take a seat on one of the chairs where you can tie on your skates. The numb but above all happy faces are striking. “It’s wonderful here,” says one man. “I specifically took time off because I don’t want to miss this.” Meanwhile, a woman puts on her figure skates and says she is a bit nervous. “It’s been a while since I skated it, but here’s a happy egg,” she says with a big smile on her face.