The sound of crunching ice, a cold wind blowing past your face, floating over the ice. The sound of cracking ice, a bleak wind past your face, floating across the ice. What skating rinks are there in the Netherlands? Below you will find the nicest, most beautiful or most special places to skate.
1. Skating rink Railway Museum Utrecht
Photo via Spoorwegmuseum.nl
From 21 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, during Winter Station, cosy lights, Christmas decorations and an antique carousel will bring the entire Railway Museum into a wonderful winter atmosphere. With the highlight being the opportunity to skate between the trains!
During Winter Station, the museum breathes a special and magical atmosphere. And who can claim to have skated between the oldest trains in the Netherlands! A variety of cake and biscuits are available at Winter Station. From poffertjes, oliebollen, a delicious cup of snert to free marshmallows that can be roasted over the fire! There is a daily different programme with music and activities for children. It is a perfect outing for the family, but also definitely an atmospheric place for a day out with friends or colleagues!
Prefer to skate alone? The ice rink itself will open even before the start of Winter Station, on 14 December!
Want to make a whole weekend of it? Stay overnight at Stayokay Utrecht Centrum or Stayokay Utrecht Bunnik to experience even more of the beautiful city and its history, beauty and, above all, atmosphere!
2. Skating rink Rotterdam
From 23 November to 1 March 2025, you can enjoy skating again in Rotterdam. Get your irons out of the grease, get your skates sharpened and get that winter hat out of the attic! The rink is covered, so even when the weather is typically Dutch, Rotterdam Skating Rink is the place to be! This enclosure is also what makes the Rotterdam ice rink so special, as it consists of lanes with rainbow-coloured lights! The rainbow lights of the 400-metre rink are on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 16:00 onwards. So come and enjoy ‘Disco’ skating!
And did you know that you can find a very unique hostel in the famous Cube Houses in Rotterdam? The perfect location to visit the Market Halls and see the Erasmus Bridge after your skating adventure!
3. Ice rink Scheveningen
Skating at the beach is definitely an option! From 9 November to 9 February 2025, you can enjoy daily skating at Scheveningen ice rink. With no less than 600m2 of covered ice, there is more than enough room to practise those pirouettes! In addition, there are plenty of places along the beach to warm up and have a snack.
Feel like adding another day? Then spend the night at Stayokay Den Haag. With less than half an hour's travel you are already at the beautiful coast. Then you can go shopping in the city centre the next day!
4. Skating rink in Breda
Enjoy free skating, with swinging music, skating lessons or a skating party. Everything is possible at Kunstijsbaan Breda! At this gigantic ice rink, there is enough room and fun for everyone. Even the seasiders come here for the Zeeland marathon skating championships!
Will you come and skate a lap for fun, or will we find you skating a lane in competition? You can visit the skating rink in Breda this season until 9 March 2025!
5. Skating rink Haarlem
The professional IJsbaan Haarlem is perfect for both the novice skater and the real diehards. On the covered indoor area, you can make your first steps, play ice hockey or improve your skills. Improve your pirouettes or learn to race through each bend as the fastest. This ice rink is open until 30 March 2025.
Plan a day of skating in combination with a visit to Stayokay Haarlem. Then you will have time the next day to explore the old city centre or go out to eat in one of the many restaurants in the city.
6. Floating skating rink in Leiden
Photo via Unity.nu
In Leiden, there are several places to go for a round of skating this winter! In the centre of Leiden, there will be a floating ice rink on the Nieuwe Rijn river from 7 December until 5 January 2025! The Floating Rink will be open daily from 10:00-21:00.
Would you rather skate indoors? Then head for the Schaatshal Leiden, where you can go all winter and do laps on the 250-metre long rink! In this renovated ice hall, you will find an Indoor Rink, a Raised Rink and a Fun Rink, among others!
7. Jaap Eden Ice rink in Amsterdam
Amsterdam's iconic Jaap Eden Ice Rink is the only open-air 400-metre rink in the city! From 12 October 2024 until 23 March 2025, you can enjoy skating outdoors here, with the atmospheric Amsterdam scenery all around you. For beginners to advanced skaters: everyone is welcome! The ice rink offers skating lessons, clinics and fun events. And all in our beautiful capital city!
Don't feel like going home yet after your winter afternoon of skating? Then dive into Amsterdam, enjoy the vibrant nightlife and stay overnight at Stayokay Amsterdam Oost or Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark.
8. Skating at the Uithof in The Hague
This winter months, the Uithof in The Hague offers skating fun for young and old. With a 400-metre rink, an indoor fun rink and even an ice hockey rink, there is plenty of variety. Besides free skating, there are also skating lessons, curling and ice hockey clinics for those who want to improve their skills. Warm up with a hot drink in the cosy café or visit the sports shop for new skates. A fun destination for a real winter day with friends or family, even if it's not freezing outside yet!
Spend the night after your active day at Stayokay The Hague.
9. Ice sports centre Eindhoven
IJssportcentrum Eindhoven is a place you won't want to miss as a skating fan this winter. With both an indoor 400-metre rink and a recreational rink, there is something for everyone. For children there are tools to learn to skate safely, and for experienced skaters there are lessons and clinics to refine their technique. After a few laps on the ice, hot chocolate is ready in the cosy café.
Make it a complete day out and discover the vibrant city of Eindhoven! Stay overnight at Stayokay Eindhoven - Blue Collar to complete the adventure and enjoy the city even more.
10. Ice skating on the Vrijthof during Magical Maastricht
Skate till you drop during Magical Maastricht from 28 November to 30 December 2024 on the Vrijthof! Between the brilliant lights and atmospheric Christmas decorations, you will find a wonderful skating rink. The Vrijthof will be transformed into a winter wonderland full of cosy stalls, hot chocolate and stunning views of the festively lit city. This unique experience makes a day of ice skating in Maastricht particularly festive.
End the day with a stroll through the atmospheric city centre and stay overnight at Stayokay Maastricht for a relaxing start to the next day full of adventure!
After your day of skating, not ready to go home yet? Then make a night of it and stay one of our cosy hostels this winter. Check here to see which hostel is near your favourite skating rink.
Can't get enough of winter?
We also collected the most beautiful, special, or fun Christmas markets in The Netherlands, and the best tips for a great winter!
