Volendam skating association sets world record for longest polonaise on ice

To practice, the skating club already held a dress rehearsal last week. But that didn’t go well. That’s why it was still exciting to see whether it would work today. “Today it went well in one go,” says Edwin de Boer of the association proudly. “Monique Smit set the rhythm with a Sinterklaas song and it went very well.”

It was quite a serious affair, as delegates from the International Records Support Group from Geneva (Switzerland) had even traveled to the skating rink in West Friesland to register and certify the attempt.

The official document states 185 participants instead of 350, because only children counted for the polonaise. So the Good Saint did not count.

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The association decided to undertake the attempt in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Volendam Skating Association. This association has been bringing two to three hundred children to the ice rink in Hoorn every Friday for about 30 years. Jenny Smit, sister of Jan Smit, was also there to present everything.

Big party

The children present, aged from 6 to 10 years old, thoroughly enjoyed the whole spectacle, says Edwin. “They thought it was fantastic, it was a big party. In the beginning it was a bit exciting, because Sinterklaas was of course there too. But they did very well. I am very proud of the children and the rest of the organization .”

Edwin does not know whether he and his association will now hunt for more world records. “Let’s enjoy this one first,” he laughs.