Due to the increased energy costs and a shortage of four tons, the Westfries Ice Rink in Hoorn was in danger of not opening. But the municipality of Hoorn came to the rescue by postponing the payment of the rent. This means that the West Frisian is out of the fire for the time being and you can still skate tomorrow. Over the past week, five ice masters have worked very hard to achieve the smoothest possible ice floor. This was partly due to favorable weather conditions. “The ice is perfect”, says a proud ice master Ruud Sijm.
You can skate again tomorrow at the Westfries ice rink in Hoorn – NH Nieuws
The mood of the ice rink employees is relieved. The fact that the doors of the ice rink will ‘just’ open tomorrow after a period of great uncertainty is a huge boost. “I’m super happy,” says owner of the indoor skate shop, Frank de Groot. “We have to live on it. But I am also happy for the public. Come here on Saturday morning and you will see all those happy children’s faces. Then you know why there is an ice rink in Hoorn.” Receptionist Ellen Leek can also get a laugh out of it. “Yes, I’m very happy because I have a job again. I don’t like being without a job either.”
One ice floor is not the other
It remains to be seen whether the ice floor will come out well. “If there is a lot of wind, if it is very humid, if it is warm, then it gets really exciting,” explains ice master Ruud Sijm. “This year we are lucky in that regard that the temperature is low at night.” But apart from the fact that the weather has to be a bit along, it comes down to craftsmanship. “It’s building up the ice layer by layer,” says Ruud. “You have to have a lot of patience for it.”
“A few more bumps out and then we can go”
To really find out whether the ice rink is good, you should of course skate around it. That is not a task for ice master Ruud, by the way. “I’m not really into skating,” he admits. And so today it is up to receptionist Ellen Leek who is putting the ice rink to a critical test today. With a remarkably professional stroke, she smoothly skates a few laps on the virgin floor. “The ice cream is good”, she nods with satisfaction. “Nice. There are still some bumps here and there. But they are still working on it, so it will be fine.”
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