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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

Kees Toppen
Tour of 1985
Stavoren

"Actually quite smart and 'funny' – a helmet!"

In 1985 and 1986, wearing a helmet was not yet a thing. By 1997, you saw more of them, but still sporadically.
Michel Bego
Tour of 1997
Leeuwarden

"One of my greatest experiences"

I am Michel Bego, born on November 15, 1952, in Rotterdam. On January 4, 1997, I was living in Etten-Leur. The most important thing was that I had a starting ticket. I stayed with my second cousin, Ron Muijzer, in Leeuwarden. I was in the purple starting group, starting at 10:05 a.m.
Niels Schouten
Tocht van 1997
Leeuwarden

Blaren en een stevige wind getrotseerd

In november 1997 was ik ingeloot voor de Elfstedentocht. Een kans van 1 op 4 toen nog gezien het grote aantal (potentiële) leden. Ik vond ook nog een adresje in Leeuwarden door te zoeken op Jansen in het telefoonboek waar ik kon overnachten. Mijn starttijd was 9.30 en de eerste 100 km gingen goed. Daarna […]
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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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