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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

Emile Jaensch
Tour of 1997
Leeuwarden

"Frozen sweat and amazing crowd"

As a student in Amsterdam, I learned to skate on noren (type of skates). In 1996, I became a member. On Monday, November 25 of that year, I received news that I was one of the 4,200 lucky people with a starting card for the next Elfstedentocht. In 1997, I returned early from vacation. Using sandpaper, I removed the rust from my skates, which I had bought for five guilders. Wearing woollen underwear and three sweaters layered over each other, I armed myself against the cold.
Erik Kroes
Tocht van 1985
Sloten

Met een geleende jas en een paar oude schaatsen de Elfstedentocht volbracht

Het is 1985, ijskoud en de Elfstedentocht gaat door na 23 jaar. Ik was 19 jaar en wist geeneens wat het was, de laatste tocht was van 1963, voor mijn geboorte. Ingeschreven en op naar Friesland met een paar oude schaatsen. Met een geleende jas aan de tocht begonnen. Op het Slotermeer van een schaatser […]
Jan Willem Jansen
Tour of 1985
Franeker

"Blacksmith from Balk repairs left skate"

February 21, 1985; Ice floes and thawing weather; many cracks. On the Slotermeer, the tip of my hard steel blade breaks off, resulting in a razor-sharp point on the glide side. Struggling and falling, I manage to reach Balk.
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The route of the Elfstedentocht

Click on one of the city circles for more information
Province Friesland
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