1997
1986
1985
1963
1956
1954
1947
1942
1941
1940
1933
1929
1917
1912
1909
Click on the year for information about the edition.
1909
1912
1917
1929
1933
1940
1941
1942
1947
1954
1956
1963
1985
1986
1997
Swipe through the editions and click for more information

Association

Royal Association The Friesian Eleven Cities since 1909!
The Royal Association The Friesian Eleven Cities (Koninklijke Vereniging De Friesche Elf Steden) aims to promote the sport of ice skating, particularly by organising the Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour) on ice, if possible, annually. The association consists of a board of 10 people and has over 32,000 members. Each year, the board, together with the district heads, assistant district heads, and many volunteers, organises the Elfstedentocht. Whether the event can ultimately take place depends on the weather. A minimum ice thickness of 15 centimetres is required across the entire route for the Elfstedentocht to take place.
The association

History

All fifteen editions in words and pictures
Among the athletes who completed the tour on their own initiative during the harsh winter of 1890-1891 was Willem ‘Pim’ Mulier. He took the initiative to organise the first "official" Elfstedentocht. In 1909, the Frisian Ice Association (De Friesche IJsbond) organised the first Elfstedentocht race. The Frisian Ice Association initially wanted to make it a one-time event, but Mr. M.E. Hepkema, a lawyer from Leeuwarden, believed that this form of ice skating was viable. He also saw the importance of creating a separate organisation for it. A few days later, on January 15, 1909, he, along with other enthusiastic Frisians, founded the Association De Friesche Elf Steden. Since 1909, the tour has been held fifteen times.
History

Skating stories of our members

Ants Tilma
Tocht van 1985, Tocht van 1986, Tocht van 1997

Interview op Omrop Fryslân

Ik heb de 11stedentochten van '85, '86, '97 geschaatst. Toen het 25 jaar geleden was dat de laatste 11 stedentocht werd verreden, ben ik in het Fries geïnterviewd door Omrop Fryslân. Ik voeg de link hieronder bij. Het is tussen minuut 12 en minuut 17.30. De interviewer vond het incident dat ik mijn beste vriend […]
Jan Meester
Tocht van 1963

Jan Meester

Elfstedenkruisje uit 1963 voor mijn broer De broer van mijn vader heet Cor Meester (geb. 28 juli 1933 te Ursem). Tijdens de barre Tocht van 1963 was hij de laatste wedstrijdrijder die binnen de tijdslimiet finishte (12:59). Drie jaar later overleed hij op 33-jarige leeftijd door een noodlottig ongeval. Op 10 juli 1967 werd mijn […]
Siebe Plantinga
Tour of 1985

Overslept

Gytsjerk, 21-02-85. Early in the morning, I suddenly sat up straight in bed. Startled awake. What time was it? I came to my senses. Overslept!! Oh no, the Elfstedentocht. Out of bed and quickly put on my skating clothes. A quick bowl of Brinta, the bike out of the garage, and off to Leeuwarden. Just […]
1 2 3 20

The route of the Elfstedentocht

Click on one of the city circles for more information
Province Friesland
Member login
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram