The 'Elfstedentocht' on skates

Ever since we can remember, visiting Friesland's eleven cities was considered to be a remarkable result of sportsmanship. In the middle of the 18th Century, individually accomplished eleven city tours were regarded to be great efforts. From the 19th Century, the names of only a dozen people that succeeded have been preserved. The story of their success has, with great pride, been transferred from generation to generation.

Among hundreds of men and women (!), who accomplished this great task in the long winter of 1890/91, there was a great sportsman called Willem ('Pim') Mulier. It was this man, that got the idea to organise the tour. The first 'Elfstedentocht', was organised as a contest in 1909 by the Friesche IJsbond (the Frisian Skating Association). Every 'elfstedentocht' since then was organised by Vereniging 'De Friesche Elf Steden' (Association of the eleven Frisian Cities), and had separate regulations of subscription for both contestants and leisure skaters.

Vereniging 'De Friesche Elf Steden

The Association 'De Friesche Elf Steden' was founded on January 15, 1909, just a few days after the first 'Elfstedentocht was organised by the Friesche IJsbond.
The goal of the 'Vereniging' is to organise an 'Elfstedenocht', and if possible, on a yearly basis.

The Leisure skating tour is open to members and to people who are appointed randomly from a list of 'potential candidates'.
The maximum number of skaters admitted to the 'Elfstedentocht' is 16,000. Because of this limitation, there has been a stop to the subscription of the 'Vereniging' since 1985. In the autumn of 1991 it was made possible for the first time to enter as a 'potential candidate'. Each year, out of this group, a limited number of candidates is randomly chosen, who are allowed to take part, together with the members of the 'Vereniging', in the 'Elfstedentocht', in case it will be held. The board of the 'Vereniging' decides and announces properly when new 'potential candidates' will be admitted.

Only those who appear on a selection list can take part in the the competition

The board

The board of the 'Vereniging' consists of eleven members.
They are assisted by over 20 rayonhoofden together with their assistants, and, in case of an actual 'Elfstedentocht', thousands of volunteers.

Housing of the skaters

There is a housing committee, consisting of representatives of the Friesland-Leeuwarden Tourist board. The Gemeentelijk Informatiecentrum assisits, together with the the board of the 'Vereniging' in finding appropriate housing facilities.
On the day before the tour, the housing committee has a session to divide the housing among the skaters.

The track

Leeuwarden , capital of Friesland, has always been start and finish of the 'Elfstedentocht'.
It takes the skaters to the cities of Sneek, IJlst, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Bolsward, Harlingen, Franeker, Dokkum en Leeuwarden.

The selection list comprises of:

Members of the 'Vereniging' and KNSB-Marathon (the Marathon department of the Royal Dutch Skating Association), categories A,B, veterans and ladies;
Marathon A skaters, who are registered as such at the Marathon committee of the KNSB, but are not member of the 'Vereniging';
The same goes for female marathon skaters;
Members of the 'Vereniging', who have accomplished the last tours within the time limit;
Members of the 'Vereniging', who can be expected, judged from former skating accomplishments, to complete the competition. The number is limited, due to the fact that the maximum number of competitors is about 300 Skaters should have reached the age of 18.

The leisure tour

The leisure tour is open to:
Skating members who have fulfilled their administrative duties, and are in posession of a legitimate Elfsteden Identification Card;
'potential candidates', who have been randomly chosen for the season Leisure skaters also have to be at least 18 years old.
The number of skaters is in principal limited to a maximum of 16,000.

VERENIGING DE FRIESCHE ELF STEDEN
P.O. box 569
8901 BJ Leeuwarden
The Netherlands

© Digital Region Friesland `95-present
We much appreciate comments, suggestions and bug-reports.
Please send these to DRF