FAQ general

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 10:00 and 12:00. During periods of serious frost, availability will be extended.

The rayonmanagers meet to discuss the thickness and condition of the ice along the Elfstedentocht route. They only meet when there is already a considerable layer of ice.

You can only participate in the Elfstedentocht if you are a member of our Association and no longer a waiting list member but an active member. You can check this—if you are already a member—via your personal page under "login for members." If you do not meet these conditions, you cannot participate in the event. You can register for membership throughout the year and will then be placed on the waiting list in order of application.

• Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide a new Elfstedentocht medal, even against payment.

The Tegeltjesbrug is an initiative of the It Sil Heve Therefore, we refer you to the foundation’s website.

Deze vindt u op de website van stichting It Sil Heve.

You are eligible for an Elfstedentocht certificate if you have completed the following:

1. The Elfstedentocht on skates (the one-day event organised by the Royal Association De Friesche Elf Steden).
2. The Elfstedentocht by bicycle (the one-day event on Whit Monday, organised by the Stichting de Friese Elfsteden Rijwieltocht).
3. The five-day Elfstedentocht walking event (the event during the week of Ascension, organised by the Stichting Elfsteden Wandeltocht).

You can apply for the certificate via the website of the Friese Elf Steden Rijwieltocht.

If you log into your personal page after the winter (after April 1), you will no longer see start and registration details. This is because we are already preparing for the next winter season. New start and registration details will be posted in November on your personal page and will also be included in the letter you receive annually at the end of November with the Elfstedenbrief and the invitation to the General Members' Meeting.

No, unfortunately this is not possible. Each year, the number of resignations and changes is reviewed just before the collection round (end of September/beginning of October). The number of available spots will be filled by waiting list members in order of application. For example, if there are 25 resignations, the first 25 people on the waiting list will be promoted to active member. There are 30,000 starting spots available, and we know from experience that approximately 80% of the eligible participants show up for the Elfstedentocht. This 80-90% is also the maximum number we can accommodate on the ice. We will not supplement unclaimed starting spots with waiting list members.

This can be done via the application forms listed on our website (the skating skills declaration does not need to be completed). You will then become a non-active member of our Association. You can also send an email or letter with your full name and address details.

Yes, but they must also be members of our Association to participate in the Elfstedentocht on skates.

In this case, you can suffice by providing your membership number and signing the skating proficiency declaration. However, you must inform the Association that you have lost your membership card.

As a member of our Association, you may sign a skating skills declaration a maximum of twice per year. The condition is that you must be able to accurately assess whether the person in question is capable of skating 200 kilometres in one day. The Association year runs from August 1 to July 31.

Yes, this is allowed

• To become a member of our Association, you must be at least 18 years old on the day of registration. Additionally, you must have a skating proficiency declaration signed by two current members of the Association who can confirm that you are capable of completing a 200 km journey in one day. More information and the registration forms can be found through this link.

Anyone who became a member of our Association after June 1, 2014, will be placed on the waiting list. This list is processed in the order of arrival. Each year, the number of cancellations is reviewed just before the payment round. For example, if there are 50 cancellations at that time, the first 50 people on the waiting list will be promoted to riding members.

No, due to privacy regulations, we cannot provide member details to third parties. You will need to find two current members within your own network.

If there is 15 cm of ice along the entire route, this will be announced three days before the start. One day before the start is the registration day on which all participants officially register.

Men's race: 5.15 uur

Women's race: 5.30 uur

Tour skaters: After the start of the women's race, the first tour skaters (numbers 1–1200) may depart with permission from the race management (5:40 a.m.).

In 1997. There have been 15 Elfstedentocht events in total, with the first in 1909.

This is due to tradition, as well as practical reasons: 15 cm of ice is needed for spectators alone, and emergency services like police need to be present. Their deployment cannot be extended over multiple days.

Under no circumstance is advertising allowed along the route, and no agreements are made with commercial parties. Of course, there are business arrangements with parties for materials needed to organise the event, such as the rental of barriers, to name just one example. But these are simply business agreements.

Approximately 32,000.

No, participants must be self-sufficient. The road network in Friesland will probably be heavily congested.

Only if you are a member of the Association and listed on the KNSB competition registration.

You will be transported by the buses arranged by the Association to the Elfstedenhal. You need to sign out here by handing in your start card. You will receive a proof of return of your start card.