Editing Elfstedentocht (section)

==Planning and publicity==
Since the ''Elfstedentocht'' is such a rare event, its declaration creates excitement all over the country. In the build-up to a possible race in 2012, [[Mark Rutte]], the Dutch Prime Minister remarked "once every fifteen years our country is not governed from The Hague but by twenty-two district heads in Friesland. And our country is in good hands."<ref>{{cite news
|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-netherlands-skating-idUSLNE81800R20120209
|work = [[Reuters]]
|date = 9 February 2012
|title = Dutch gripped by ice fever as hope for historic ice skating race
|access-date = 4 December 2012
|first1 = Tjibbe 
|last1 = Hoekstra}}</ref> As soon as a few days pass with below-freezing temperatures, the media start speculating about the chances for an ''Elfstedentocht''. The longer the freezing temperatures stay, the more intense this "''Elfstedenkoorts''" (eleven cities fever) gets, culminating in a national near-frenzy when it is announced that the tour will actually be held. The day before the tour many Dutch flock to Leeuwarden to enjoy the party atmosphere that surrounds the event; that evening, called the "Nacht van Leeuwarden" (Night of Leeuwarden), becomes a giant street party (Frisians, who have a reputation for surliness, are said to thaw when it freezes).<ref name=Horeca>{{cite web
|url = http://www.missethoreca.nl/1089297/hotel/hotel-nieuwsbericht/ElfstedenkoortsTreftHorecaFriesland.htm
|title = Elfstedenkoorts treft horeca Friesland
|language = nl
|trans-title=Eleven towns fever hits Friesland 
|access-date = 6 February 2012
|date = 6 February 2012
|first = Nathalie 
|last = Bluiminck
|publisher = Miss et Horeca}}</ref>

On the day of the tour many Dutch either stay at home to watch it on television (9.2 million viewers by one estimate<ref name=":0" />), or find a place along the route to cheer the skaters on, either taking the day off or calling in sick for work. In February 2012, Friesland hotels were fully booked and expecting between 1.5 and 2 million visitors in anticipation of a tour before it was announced, as the weather seemed suitable.<ref name=Horeca/>