The Elfstedentocht is a long-distance tour skating event on natural ice, almost 200 kilometres (120 mi) long, which is held both as a speed skating competition and a leisure tour. It is held in the province of Friesland in the north of the Netherlands, leading past all eleven historical cities of the province. The tour is held at most once a year, only when the natural ice along the entire course is at least 15 centimetres (6 in) thick; sometimes on consecutive years, other times with gaps that may exceed 20 years. When the ice is suitable, the tour is announced and starts within 48 hours.
Franeker is one of the eleven historical cities of Friesland and capital of the municipality of Waadhoeke. It is located north of the Van Harinxmakanaal and about 20 km west of Leeuwarden. As of 1 January 2014, it had 12,781 inhabitants. The Eise Eisinga Planetarium, established in 1781, is located in the city.
The North Friesland Railway was a railway serving the sparsely populated north of the Dutch province of Friesland. It was operated by the North Friesland Local Railway Company. It was what would be known in the UK as a light railway. The line was built to 1,435 mmstandard gauge and was about 91 kilometres (57 mi) in length.
Trijntje Johannes Reidinga was a Dutch female speed skater.
Fokje van der Velde was a Dutch kortebaan speed skater in the 1930s and 1940s. She won a total of around 80 prizes. She won the 1942 Dutch national championships kortebaanschaatsen.
Griet Hoogstins-Bijlsma was a Dutch kortebaanschaatsen speed skater.
Jeltje Gerrits van der Werf was a Dutch kortebaanschaatsen speed skater. She skated her first race in 1870 in Dokkum. She won her first race in 1871 in Oudkerk. A week later, she won individually in Oudkerk, and again in Leeuwarden. She won several more races. At the age of 24, she was called the fastest woman. In that period she married. However, twenty weeks after the marriage, her husband died. As a widow, she won over a thousand gulden in prize money and some prestigious races.
Joukje Postma was a Dutch female kortebaanschaatsen speed skater.
Makke Lambers-Groen also written as Martha Groen was a Dutch female kortebaanschaatsen speed skater.
Klaasje Hofstee was a Dutch female kortebaanschaatsen speed skater.
Martha Jans Draaisma-Hemminga was a Dutch female kortebaanschaatsen speed skater. In the period of 1917 to 1924 she was one of the best Frisian kortebaan speed skaters. She won a total of 48 first prizes.
Trijntje van Zinderen-Hemminga was a Dutch kortebaanschaatsen speed skater. Prizes she won consisted of money prizes, art pieces and medals. She won three times the bronze medal at the first three Dutch National Kortebaan Speed Skating Championships: in the winter of 1932–33, 1933–34 and 1938–39.
Houkje van der Meer was a Dutch female kortebaan speed skater.
Anke Bonnes Beenen was a Dutch kortebaan speed skater. Kortebaanschaatsen was in that era the most popular sport in Friesland, and became also more and more popular for women. She is named as the first women speed skater who became notable and popular. She became popular in couple competitions skating together with Jouke Schaap, winning thousand guilders in prize money.
Pietje Hornstra-Feitsma is a former Dutch female kortebaan speed skater.
Gelske Venema-Brouwer was a Dutch female kortebaanschaatsen speed skater. During her 28 years speed skating career she won a total of 77 prizes and 20 premiums.
Tietje Spannenburg-Pagels was a Dutch kortebaan speed skater. Spannenburg-Pagels was born in Hallum. She later lived in Wommels.
Durkje Huitema was a Dutch female kortebaan speed skater.
Ynskje Wagenaar was a Dutch female kortebaan speed skater from Heerenveen.
Dirkje Kiers was a Dutch kortebaan speed skater from Eernewoude, who was active in the 1940s and 1950s.
