Winterswijk ice rink opens as first natural ice track of the season

The Winterswijk Ice Association in Gelderland, Netherlands, opened its natural ice rink on Friday morning, marking the first skateable natural ice track of the season. The 400-meter track featured approximately 2.5 millimeters of ice at the time of its 07:30 opening.

Ice master Hendrik van Prooije attributed the early ice formation to a combination of effective insulation and a white top layer on the track, which helps retain cold temperatures. A specialized misting arm is used to spray thin layers of water to create a flat surface. This marks the seventh consecutive time Winterswijk has been the first in the country to produce natural ice.

Due to rising temperatures and sunlight causing the edges of the track to melt, the association closed the rink for safety after approximately two hours. Around thirty people utilized the track during its brief period of operation.