Wednesday 8 February 2012

First edition of the Zwolse grachtentocht (ice skating tour of the canals of Zwolle)

The logo of the event - their website is going up today with all the information: Zwolse Grachtentocht
While we continue to wait for a decision from the rayonhoofden (I just love that word, which in Dutch means "district chiefs") up north in the province of Friesland to see if we will finally have an Elfstedentocht this year, their Zwolse counterparts* have come up with an ice-skating tocht ("race" in this case) of their own along the stadsgrachten (city canals) in Zwolle.
One of the canals in Zwolle in the winter

 The event will take place next Saturday 11 February as of 12:00. The route will start at the Rodetorenplein following the Thorbeckegracht to the end of the canal and back to the Rodetorenplein. There will be refreshment stalls along the track and the bars and restaurants along the canal will also set up their terrasjes (outdoor cafés) on the ice. The organisers are looking for music bands and entertainers to make sure that there is a festive atmosphere all around. It should be fun! 
As of 11:00 there will be two caravans at the Rodetorenplein for those who want to participate to collect their stamp cards for free. If you want to be a part of it and join in the ice skating fun, you can ask for more information or register via this email address: zwolsegrachtentocht@live.nl  The committee organising the event has also just launched their own website where you will find the programme, the route and a form to sign up if you want to enter the marathon. 

Should the rayonhoofden from Friesland decide that the Elfstedentocht is a Go, the Zwolse grachtentocht will then be postponed so that we all can finally give our full attention to this huge national event - the first Elfstedentocht of the 21st century!


This is me on a bridge across the Thorbeckegracht where the Zwolse grachtentocht will take place.


*The Zwolse grachtentocht is actually being organised by a group of entrepreneurs of the catering industry in Zwolle.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Que jovencita!!! ojo que no te llamé vieja ehhh jajajaja Besos

Unknown said...

Sí, la foto tiene unos 5 añitos... qué le vamos a hacer :D

Unknown said...

I wish we had both, Elfsteden- and Zwolse grachtentocht!

Unknown said...

Thanks! Yes, I'm watching it. Leuk hoor! :D

Invader_Stu said...

Sounds like a good alternative to the Elfstedentocht

Cristina, from Buenos Aires to Paris said...

Debe ser divertido para mirar acompañado de una cervecita!! Eso si, después me iria a comer a unos de los tantos restaurants argentinos que hay por alli...mucho mejores de los que hay aqui en Francia!

Unknown said...

Well, there have been little "tochten" all over NL these days - but I don't think that nothing compares to the real thing! I guess we'll just have to keep waiting...

Unknown said...

O un chocolatito, por el frío! :D

Yo aquí la verdad que he estado dos veces en un restaurant argentino y no sé si quiero volver a ir a otro! Es que siempre te terminás dando cuenta que de argentino sólo tienen el nombre!

Anonymous said...

Sabrás quien es Anonymous verdad? jajaja :)

Unknown said...

Sospecho, sospecho... jaja