There’s nothing quite like the feeling of lacing up your skates and gliding smoothly across the ice while the light shimmers and sparkles. And then falling over and starting again, says Tomas Mowlam

From Oslo to Edinburgh and Brussels to Boulogne, most big European towns and cities set up ice rinks during Christmas.

Amsterdam however takes it to the next level and the residents love to skate. If the weather is cold enough the canals will freeze and parts of the city will be transformed.

The local authority will close Keizersgracht canal to boats and allow ice to form and if there’s four continuous days at -4°C or lower then you can skate on it. The large pond in the Vondelpark can also freeze over, creating another skating arena.

With warmer winters this is happening less and less, but do not fear there are plenty of man-made ice skating opportunities about.

The Zuidpool (South Pole) during the summer is an artificial beach for Amsterdammers craving a more tropical atmosphere, but from October they “change sunglasses for goggles and ski suits” and it becomes one of the best ice rinks in town.

It’s at Europaplein 22, Rai and tram 4 runs every 10 minutes from central Amsterdam to the Europaplein stop. It’s open until 1st March 2010 and there are bars and outdoor cafes for you to rest and recuperate after you race around the rink.

The ice rink at the Artis Royal Zoo is very popular. The zoo itself is also a great day out and there is a planetarium, geological museum, insectariums, aviary, aquarium and a butterfly pavilion should you not feel like skating.

Trams 9, 10 and 14 all run to Artis and it’s open from 12th December 14th March. The only downside is the €17.50 entry fee.

Right in the very centre of Amsterdam there are clutch of skating rinks. The Beursplein rink next to the Christmas market is open until 3rd January, the Leidesplein is open until 10th January and there’s also the Museumplein rink in front of the Stedeliijk Museum open until 28th February.

The 400 metre oval rink at the Jaap Edenbaan is very popular with enthusiastic local skaters and it’s the home of the Amstel Tijgers hockey team. It costs € 6.10 for adults, € 3.70 for children under 16 and lockers and showers are €0.50.

If you fancy something a little more chilled why not try the XtraCold Ice Café on Amstel 194-196, in Rembrandtplein. Features over 60 tonnes of ice and it’s been sculpted and styled by local artist Jan des Bouvrie. There’s no chance of a warm beer.

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Image Credit: tpower1978

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