Editing Elfstedentocht

{{EngvarB|date=January 2024}}
{{Short description|Dutch long-distance skating event}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox sports league
|current_season = 
| last_season = 1997
| logo = Elfstedenrijder Auke Hettema Heliconweg FEC Leeuwarden.JPG
| logo_size   = 150px
|pixels =
|caption = Statue in [[Leeuwarden]] of an ''Elfstedentocht'' competitor. The eleven cities and all the winners are listed on the plinth
|sport = [[Tour skating]] and [[speed skating]]
|founded      = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1909}}
|countries = World
|teams=
|champion = 
|most_champs = 
|website = 
}}
The '''''Elfstedentocht''''' ({{IPA|nl|ɛl(ə)fˈsteːdə(n)tɔxt}}; [[West Frisian language|West Frisian]]: ''Alvestêdetocht'' {{IPA|fy|ɔlvəˈstɛːdətɔχt|}}, [[English language|English]]: ''Eleven cities tour'') is a long-distance [[tour skating]] event on natural ice, almost {{convert|200|km|mi}} long, which is held both as a [[speed skating]] competition (with 300 contestants) and a leisure tour (with 16,000 skaters). The ''Elfstedentocht'' is the biggest ice-skating tour in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/provinces/friesland/eleven-cities-tour-2-1.htm |title=Elfstedentocht - a 200 kilometre ice skating tour |website=holland.com |author= |date= 25 March 2011|access-date=11 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

The tour 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 {{convert|15|cm|in|0}} thick;<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Geschiedenis Schrijft elfstedengeschiedenis. Schrijf mee! ["Geschiedenis" writes the Eleven Cities History. Please contribute]
  | publisher = VPRO [Dutch Television Station]
  | url = http://elfstedenwiki.vpro.nl/
  | access-date = 2009-08-18
  | archive-date = 2020-03-24
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200324223334/http://www.elfstedenwiki.vpro.nl/
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref> 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.

The Elfstedentocht has been declared to be in danger of "extinction" due to [[climate change]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elfstedentocht-netherlands-skating-marathon-bill-whitaker-60-minutes-2020-03-08/ |title=Elfstedentocht: The outdoor skating race that brings the Netherlands to a standstill |website=CBSNews.com |author= |date=8 March 2020 |access-date=11 May 2022|publisher=[[CBC News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://dutchreview.com/culture/society/why-the-netherlands-will-never-have-an-elfstedentocht-eleven-cities-tour-again/ |title=Why the Netherlands will never have an 'Elfstedentocht' (Eleven Cities Tour) again |website=dutchreview.com|author=Abuzer van Leeuwen|date=10 February 2021 |access-date=11 May 2022|publisher=[[Dutch Review]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2019/03/07/feature/in-the-netherlands-ice-skating-is-in-the-dna-a-warming-climate-could-change-that/|title=GAME CHANGER: Waning winters |author=Rick Maese |date=7 March 2019 |access-date=11 May 2022 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|language=en}}</ref> In the past 50 years, the ''Elfstedentocht'' has taken place only three times, most recently in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.elfstedentocht.frl/de-vereniging/historie/|title=Historie|language=nl|publisher=“Koninklijke Vereniging De Friese Elf Steden”|access-date=3 November 2022}}</ref>

==Course and rules==
The tour, almost 200&nbsp;km (125 miles) in length, follows a closed or circular route along frozen canals, rivers and lakes visiting the eleven historic [[Friesland|Frisian]] cities: [[Leeuwarden]], [[Sneek]], [[IJlst]], [[Sloten, Friesland|Sloten]], [[Stavoren]], [[Hindeloopen]], [[Workum]], [[Bolsward]], [[Harlingen, Netherlands|Harlingen]], [[Franeker]], [[Dokkum]], then returning to Leeuwarden. The tour is held only if the ice is, and remains, at least 15 centimetres (6") thick along the entire course as about 15,000 amateur skaters take part, putting high requirements on the quality of the ice. The last tours were held in 1985, 1986 and 1997. All skaters must be members of the Association of the Eleven Frisian Towns. A starting permit and bib is required (€100 in 2017).<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=Frozen in Time: Europe's Ice Epic|last=Bouwes|first=Ernest|date=2017-02-03|newspaper=The New European|pages=44–45}}</ref> Skaters must collect a stamp in each city, and at three secret check points, and must finish the course before midnight.

There are often points along the route where the ice is too thin to allow mass skating; they are called "[[kluning]] points" (from [[West Frisian language|West Frisian]] klúnje meaning to run on skates over a carpet<ref name=":0" />), and the skaters walk on their skates to the next stretch of good ice. In 1997 ice-transplantation was re-introduced to strengthen weak places in the ice, for instance under bridges.

The finishing point of the ''Elfstedentocht'' is a canal near Leeuwarden, called the "Bonkevaart", close to the landmark windmill, [[De Bullemolen, Lekkum|''De Bullemolen'']], Lekkum.<ref name=Finish>{{cite web|url=http://www.molendatabase.nl/nederland/molen.php?nummer=95 |title=Lekkum, Fryslân |publisher=Molendatabase |language=nl |access-date=1 May 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Elfstedentocht routekaart OSM.png|thumb|''Elfstedentocht'' map|333x333px]]

===Route table===
{| class="wikitable"
!City
!Frisian Name
! Distance from Start (km)
|-
|[[Leeuwarden]] (start) || ''Ljouwert'' ||align="center"| 0
|-
|[[Sneek]] || ''Snits'' ||align="center"| 22
|-
|[[IJlst]] || ''Drylts'' ||align="center"| 26
|-
|[[Sloten (Friesland)|Sloten]] || ''Sleat'' ||align="center"| 40
|-
|[[Stavoren]] || ''Starum'' ||align="center"| 66
|-
|[[Hindeloopen]] || ''Hylpen'' ||align="center"| 77
|-
|[[Workum]] || ''Warkum'' ||align="center"| 86
|-
|[[Bolsward]] ||''Boalsert'' ||align="center"| 99
|-
|[[Harlingen, Friesland|Harlingen]] || ''Harns'' ||align="center"| 116
|-
|[[Franeker]] || ''Frjentsjer'' ||align="center"| 129
|-
|[[Dokkum]] || ''Dokkum'' ||align="center"| 174
|-
|[[Leeuwarden]] (finish) || ''Ljouwert'' ||align="center"| 199
|}

==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/>

== History ==
[[File:Deelnemers aan de eerste elfstedentocht 1909.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Competitors of the first (1909) ''Elfstedentocht'']]
There has been mention of skaters visiting all eleven cities of Friesland on one day since 1760. The ''Elfstedentocht'' was already part of Frisian tradition when, in 1890, [[Pim Mulier]] conceived the idea of an organised tour, which was first held in 1909 when 22 men competed.<ref name=":0" /> After this race, the [[:nl:Koninklijke Vereniging De Friesche Elf Steden|''Vereniging De Friesche Elf Steden'']]<sup>(nl)</sup> (Association of the Eleven Frisian Towns) <ref>{{cite web
  | title = Official Website [in Dutch - some pages are also available in English]
  | url = http://www.elfstedentocht.nl 
  | access-date = 2009-08-18}}</ref> was established to organise the tours.

In the 1912 edition [[Jikke Gaastra]] was the first woman ever who finished the ''Elfstedentocht'', but could not complete the full tour because the ice was not good enough after [[Sneek]]. In the 1917 edition [[Janna van der Weg]] was the first woman who finished the tour.
[[File:De 10e Elfstedentocht.ogv|thumb|225px|Video of the ''Elfstedentocht'' of 1954 (commentary in [[Dutch (language)|Dutch]])]]
The winters of 1939/40, 1940/41 and 1941/42 were particularly severe,<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/climate/1900_1949.htm#1940_1949
|title = 1900 - 1949
|work = Historical weather events
|first = MG
|last = Rowley
|date = 19 January 2012
|access-date = 6 February 2012
|archive-date = 8 May 2014
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140508223425/http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/climate/1900_1949.htm#1940_1949
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> with the race being run in each of them. The 1940 race, run three months prior to the [[German invasion of the Netherlands]], saw over 3,000 competitors start at 05:00 on 30 January, with the first five finishing at 16:34. The event dominated the front pages of Dutch newspapers.<ref name=Times310140>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=3,000 Skaters in 124-mile race |date=31 January 1940 |page=7 |issue=48527 |column=B }}</ref>

The ''Elfstedentocht'' of 1963 became known as "The hell of '63" when only 69 of the 10,000 participants were able to finish the race, due to the extremely low temperatures of -18&nbsp;°C (0°F), powder snow and a harsh eastern wind. Conditions were so horrendous that the 1963 winner, [[Reinier Paping]], became a national hero, and the tour itself legendary.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://geschiedenis.vpro.nl/artikelen/39075940/
|title = Alles van de Elfstedentocht 1963
|language = nl
|trans-title=All about the Elfstedentocht 1963
|publisher = Sportgeschiedenis.nl
|access-date = 2010-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url =  http://annpostma.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/elfstedentocht-1963-of-in-het-fries-alvestedetocht/
|title = Elfstedentocht 1963 of in het Fries: Alvestêdetocht 
|language = nl
|trans-title=Elfstedentocht 1963, or in West Frisian: Alvestêdetocht
|author = Ann MacDunn
|work = Fotoalbums van Ann MacDunn
|date = January 2009
|access-date = 2010-12-26}}</ref> Paping could not make out the finishing line as he was snow blind by the end of the race, and many of the contestants had frostbite, broken limbs, and damaged eyes.<ref name=":0" />

The next ''Elfstedentocht'' after 1963 was held in 1985; times had changed. Before, one of the best methods to stay warm during the tour was to wear newspapers underneath the clothes. In the 20 years between the tours of 1963 and 1985, clothing, training methods and skates became much more advanced, changing the nature of skating.<ref name=":0" />

The tour of 1985 was terminated prematurely because of thawing; as early as 22:00 in the evening skaters were taken off the ice. In 1986 the current Dutch [[King of the Netherlands|King]] (at the time still [[Crown Prince]]) [[Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange|Willem-Alexander]] completed the ''Elfstedentocht'' under the name ''W.A. van Buren'', ''Van Buren'' being a traditional pseudonym of the Royal House. In 1997 [[Piet Kleine]], who had previously won a gold medal at the [[1976 Winter Olympics|Olympics]] for speed skating was disqualified because he missed getting a stamp at Hindeloopen despite video evidence that he had been there.<ref name=":0" />

=== ''Elfstedentocht'' 2012 – the race that did not happen ===
The ten-day cold spell in late January and early February 2012, the 33rd such occurrence since 1901 when temperatures as low as -22.9&nbsp;°C (-9.2°F) were recorded in [[Lelystad]],<ref name=Postscript>{{cite web
|url = http://www.knmi.nl/cms/content/104789/koudegolf_winter_2012
|title = Nader Verklaard: Koudegolf winter 2012
|language = nl
|trans-title = Explained in more detail: Cold spell, Winter 2012
|publisher = Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut [Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]
|date = 29 February 2012
|access-date = 18 January 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120421123021/http://www.knmi.nl/cms/content/104789/koudegolf_winter_2012
|archive-date = 21 April 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> heightened the expectation of a 2012 Elfstedentocht &ndash; the expected day of the event, had it taken place, was Saturday 11 February.<ref name=NieuwsUit>{{cite web
|title = Elfstedentocht 2012 zaterdag 11 februari gaat niet door
|trans-title=Elfstedentocht 2012 will not be on Saturday 11 February
|language = nl
|publisher = NieuwsUit
|date = 8 February 2012
}}</ref>

On 2 February 2012, it was reported that 95% of various [[Lock (water transport)|locks]] that controlled the water flow in the canals had been adjusted to maximise the ice thickness.<ref>{{cite web
|title = Elfstedentocht 2012 - Laatste nieuws Elfstedentocht 2012
|url = http://nieuwsuit.com/2011/elfstedentocht-2012-laatste-nieuws-elfstedentocht-2012/
|language = nl
|date = 2 February 2012
|publisher = Nieuws uit
|access-date = 2 February 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120224041549/http://nieuwsuit.com/2011/elfstedentocht-2012-laatste-nieuws-elfstedentocht-2012/
|archive-date = 24 February 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> On the same day, the [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|Dutch meteorological institute]] forecast that temperatures would not rise above freezing until Wednesday 8 February at the earliest and that the thickness of the ice would be 15&nbsp;cm (6") from Tuesday 7 February until Saturday 11 February.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|title = Weer - Extra -Verwachte ijsdikte/watertemperatuur Midden-Nederland
|language = nl
|trans-title = Weather update - Expected ice thickness/water temperature Central Netherlands
|publisher = Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut [Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]
|access-date = 2 February 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120206082140/http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|archive-date = 6 February 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> On 3 February, the Dutch meteorological institute forecast a probable ice-thickness of 20&nbsp;cm (8") on Saturday 11 February and on 5 February they forecast an ice thickness approaching 25&nbsp;cm (10").<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|title = Weer - Extra -Verwachte ijsdikte/watertemperatuur Midden-Nederland
|language = nl
|trans-title = Weather update - Expected ice thickness/water temperature Central Netherlands
|publisher = Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut [Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]
|access-date = 3 February 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120206082140/http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|archive-date = 6 February 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

On 6 February it was announced that the committee had met the previous evening for the first time in fifteen years. Although there were areas where the ice was not thick enough for the race to be held, the forecast for continuing freezing weather meant that they were optimistic that the race would be held. A press conference was held at 09:30 [[UTC+1|CET]] and the committee was due to meet again on 8 February.<ref name=NOS337712>{{cite web |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/337712-nog-geen-datum-voor-elfstedentocht.html 
|title=Nog geen datum voor Elfstedentocht
|date=6 February 2012
|trans-title=No date for Elfstedentocht 
|publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting 
|language=nl 
|access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref> At the press conference, it was stated that in north Friesland the ice conditions were suitable to hold the race. In south west Friesland, the conditions were not so good, [[Stavoren]] being a particular problem where the ice was only 2&nbsp;cm (1") thick in places.<ref name=NOS337771>{{cite web |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/337771-we-gaan-voor-de-hoofdprijs.html |title=We gaan voor de hoofdprijs |date=6 February 2012 |trans-title=We go for the prize |publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting |language=nl |access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref>

On 6 February a prohibition order on navigation on many of the canals in Friesland was extended in order to facilitate the growth of the ice.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.halloleeuwarden.nl/nieuws/LeeuwarderNieuws/2012/2/6/Vaarbod_in_Friesland_is_uitgebreid
|title = Vaarbod in Friesland is uitgebreid
|language = nl
|trans-title = Navigation prohibition in Friesland is extended
|newspaper = Hallo Leeuwarden
|date = 6 February 2011
|access-date = 2012-02-06
|archive-date = 2012-02-08
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120208071531/http://www.halloleeuwarden.nl/nieuws/LeeuwarderNieuws/2012/2/6/Vaarbod_in_Friesland_is_uitgebreid
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> The following day the Dutch meteorological institute forecast that the cold spell would break on Sunday 12 February or Monday 13 February with the temperature rising above [[freezing point]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|title = Weer - Extra -Verwachte ijsdikte/watertemperatuur Midden-Nederland
|language = nl
|trans-title = Weather update - Expected ice thickness/water temperature Central Netherlands
|publisher = Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut [Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]
|access-date = 7 February 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120206082140/http://www.knmi.nl/waarschuwingen_en_verwachtingen/extra/pluimijsaangroei.html
|archive-date = 6 February 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

Late afternoon on the 8 February Wiebe Wieling, chairman of the organising committee, said that the race was off &ndash; the committee had to be realistic &ndash; safety issues had made the race impossible.<ref name=NieuwsUit/><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.elfstedentocht.nl/
|title = Ellfstedentocht komt nu nog niet
|language = nl
|trans-title=The ''Elfstedentocht'' will not be taking place
|work = Elfstedentocht Home Page
|access-date = 4 December 2012}}</ref> A ten-day cold spell was insufficient for the event; the 1997 event had taken place at the end of a 12-day cold spell.<ref name=Postscript/>

=== Winners ===
The time taken for the winner to complete the course is given in hours and minutes.<ref name="History">{{cite web
  | title = History
  | publisher = Vereniging De Friesche Elf Steden [Association of the Eleven Fries Cities]
  | url = http://www.elfstedentocht.nl/nl/
  | language = nl
  | access-date = 2010-09-26
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110111003152/http://www.elfstedentocht.nl/nl/
  | archive-date = 2011-01-11
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref> Although temperatures were sometimes above freezing on the day of the tour, all tours were preceded by many days of below-freezing temperatures.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.knmi.nl/climatology/daily_data/selection.cgi
|title = Daily weather data for the Netherlands - Download
|publisher = Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut [Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute]
|access-date = 6 February 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120126091831/http://www.knmi.nl/climatology/daily_data/selection.cgi
|archive-date = 26 January 2012
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>
[[File:Lekkum - Bullemolen met vlaggen.jpg|thumb|upright|''De Bullemolen'', along the canal "Ouddeel", near the finishing point of the ''Elfstedentocht'']]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Date
!Temperature<ref group="Note">Mean temperatures at [[de Kooy]], one of three Dutch meteorological stations for which records go back to 1910.</ref>
!Winner
!Time
!Distance
!Average<br>speed
!Years<br>since<br>previous<br>tour
|-
|2 January 1909
| align="center" |n/a 
| Minne Hoekstra
|13:50
|189&nbsp;km
|13.7&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |—
|-
|7 February 1912
| align="center" | +3.8&nbsp;°C
|[[Coen de Koning]] 
|11:40
|189&nbsp;km
|16.2&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |3
|-
|27 January 1917
| align="center" | -1.8&nbsp;°C
|[[Coen de Koning]] 
|9:53
|189&nbsp;km
|19.1&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |5
|-
|12 February 1929
| align="center" | -10.1&nbsp;°C
|Karst Leemburg
|11:09
|191&nbsp;km
|17.1&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |12
|-
|16 December 1933
| align="center" | -2.0&nbsp;°C
|Abe de Vries and<br> 
Sipke Castelein
|9:05
|195&nbsp;km
|19.7&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |5<!-- This is correct. Look at the date, not just the year. -->
|-
|30 January 1940
| align="center" | -6.1&nbsp;°C
|Piet Keijzer,<br>[[Auke Adema]],<br>Cor Jongert,<br>Durk van der Duim<br> and Sjouke Westra
|11:34<ref name=Times310140/>
|198.5&nbsp;km
|17.3&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |6<!-- This is correct. Look at the date, not just the year. -->
|-
|7 February 1941
| align="center" |0.0&nbsp;°C
|[[Auke Adema]] 
|9:19 
|198.5&nbsp;km
|21.3&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |1
|-
|22 January 1942
| align="center" | -11.7&nbsp;°C
|Sietze de Groot
|8:44 
|198&nbsp;km
|22.7&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |1
|-
|8 February 1947
| align="center" | -8.5&nbsp;°C
|{{ill|Jan W. van der Hoorn|nl}}<!-- do not confuse with Jan J. van der Hoorn -->
|10:51
|191&nbsp;km
|17.6&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |5
|-
|3 February 1954
| align="center" | -5.4&nbsp;°C
|[[Jeen van den Berg]]
|7:35
|198.5&nbsp;km
|26.2&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |7
|-
|14 February 1956
| align="center" | -4.9&nbsp;°C
|''no winner declared''<ref group="Note">After shared wins in 1933 and 1940, when the front-runners decided not to compete but join hands to cross the line together, this practice was forbidden by the organisation. {{ill|Jan J. van der Hoorn|nl}}, [[Aad de Koning]], {{ill|Jeen Nauta|nl}}, {{ill|Maus Wijnhout|nl}} and {{ill|Anton Verhoeven|nl}} however ignored this rule when they crossed the finish line in unison. They were not disqualified, but no winner was declared.</ref>
|—
|190.5&nbsp;km 
|—
| align="center" |2
|-
|18 January 1963
| align="center" | -7.7&nbsp;°C
|[[Reinier Paping]]
|10:59
|196.5&nbsp;km
|17.9&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |7
|-
|21 February 1985
| align="center" | +0.3&nbsp;°C
|[[Evert van Benthem]] 
|6:47
|196.8&nbsp;km
|29.0&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |22
|-
|26 February 1986
| align="center" | -6.9&nbsp;°C
|[[Evert van Benthem]] 
|6:55
|199.3&nbsp;km
|28.8&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |1
|-
|4 January 1997
| align="center" | -3.6&nbsp;°C
|[[Henk Angenent]] 
|6:49
|199.6&nbsp;km
|29.3&nbsp;km/h
| align="center" |11
|-
|Present
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
| align="center" |{{Age nts|1997|1|4}}
|}
Women were first allowed to take part in the tour proper in 1985; before then they had to skate with the amateurs and no award was given. The women to cross the finish line first were:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://schaatsmuseum.nl/elfstedentocht/winnaars/|title=Winnaars van de Elfstedentocht}}</ref>

* 1940 &ndash; [[Sjoerdtsje Faber]]
* 1941 &ndash; [[Wopkje Kooistra]]
* 1942 &ndash; [[Antje Schaap]]
* 1985 &ndash; [[Lenie van der Hoorn]]
* 1986 &ndash; [[Tineke Dijkshoorn]]
* 1997 &ndash; [[Klasina Seinstra]] (7:49.11)
[[File:Elfstedentocht-Plaatsnamen.png|thumb|upright|The course of the 1997 ''Elfstedentocht'']]
The course can vary slightly from race to race, depending on the quality of the ice.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/9344/De-winter-van-2012/article/detail/3158340/2012/02/06/Het-ijs-ligt-er-fantastisch-bij-maar-grote-problemen-in-zuidoosten.dhtml
|title = Het ijs ligt er 'fantastisch' bij, maar 'grote problemen' in zuidoosten
|language = nl
|trans-title=The ice is 'fantastic', but there are problems in the south west.
|newspaper = Volkskrant
|date = 6 February 2012
|access-date = 2012-02-06
|first = Michiel
|last = van der Geest}}</ref> The cumulative distance at each checkpoint in 1997 was:

*0&nbsp;km: [[Leeuwarden]]
*22&nbsp;km: [[Sneek]] (municipality [[Súdwest-Fryslân]])
*26&nbsp;km: [[IJlst]] (mun. Súdwest-Fryslân)
*40&nbsp;km: [[Sloten, Friesland|Sloten]] (mun. [[De Fryske Marren]])
*66&nbsp;km: [[Stavoren]] (mun. Súdwest-Fryslân)
*77&nbsp;km: [[Hindeloopen]] (mun. Súdwest-Fryslân)
*86&nbsp;km: [[Workum]] (mun. Súdwest-Fryslân)
*99&nbsp;km: [[Bolsward]] (mun. Súdwest-Fryslân)
*116&nbsp;km: [[Harlingen, Netherlands|Harlingen]]
*129&nbsp;km: [[Franeker]] (mun. [[Waadhoeke]])
*174&nbsp;km: [[Dokkum]] (mun. [[Noardeast-Fryslân]])
*199&nbsp;km: [[Leeuwarden]]

== Similar events ==

=== Alternative Elfstedentocht ===
An "alternative Elfstedentocht" has been held every year in January since 1989 on the [[Weissensee (Carinthia)|Weissensee]] in [[Carinthia]], Austria.

The 930 [[Metres above the Adriatic|mAA]] (3051&nbsp;ft) lake is 12&nbsp;km long (7 miles) and around 3000 speed skaters do either the 50, 100 or 200&nbsp;km (30, 60 or 125 mile) course at what is likely to be the world's largest ice sport event.

The Dutch Speed Skating Championship is part of the event and the fastest competitors do the 200 kilometre (125 mile) course in just over five hours.<ref>Information about the event on the [http://www.weissensee.com/en/natureislauf/speed-skating/ homepage of the municipality of Weissensee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909005927/http://www.weissensee.com/en/natureislauf/speed-skating/ |date=2017-09-09 }} and the [http://www.weissensee.nl/ website of the organisers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316050844/http://www.weissensee.nl/ |date=2014-03-16 }}.</ref>

=== Fietselfstedentocht (Eleven towns by bicycle) ===
[[Image:Bolsward - Elfstedenrijwieltocht.jpg|thumb|Departure of the ''Elfstedentocht'' cycling tour in 2006]]
{{main|Eleven Cities Cycling Tour}}
The eleven towns cycle race was first held in 1912 and developed in parallel with its skating counterpart, but unlike the skating race, has taken place on almost every year - apart from the 2001 event which was cancelled due to [[Foot-and-mouth disease|foot and mouth disease]] and the 2020 event which was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], it has taken place on [[Whit Monday]] every year since 1947. The event has become immensely popular and as a safety precaution it ceased to be a race but has become a tour with a maximum average speed of 25&nbsp;km/h (15 mph) between checkpoints.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.11steden.nl/pagina.asp?id=6170772
|title = Eleven-Cities-Cycling-Tour
|publisher = Stichting de Friese Elfsteden Rijwieltocht
|access-date = 2010-12-28
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718072331/http://www.11steden.nl/pagina.asp?id=6170772
|archive-date = 2011-07-18
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

The tour, which starts and ends in [[Bolsward]] rather than Leeuwarden, is currently limited to 15,000 entrants. Between 05:00 and 08:00, entrants leave Bolsward every eight minutes in batches of about 600 and those who complete the 235&nbsp;km (146 mile) course before midnight receive medals.

In 2013 the organisers banned [[velomobile]]s from the event by limiting the event to two-wheeled vehicles propelled by human power.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.11steden.nl/nieuwsbericht.asp?id=3039668
|title = Geen velomobielen meer bij Fietselfstedentocht
|trans-title = No velomobiles at the Fietselfstedentocht
|language = nl
|publisher = Stichting de Friese Elfsteden Rijwieltocht
|date = 16 January 2013
|access-date = 17 January 2013
|archive-date = 1 February 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130201215622/http://www.11steden.nl/nieuwsbericht.asp?id=3039668
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

=== Zwemelfstedentocht ===
In 2018, Dutch long-distance swimmer [[Maarten van der Weijden]] attempted to swim the entire eleven city tour. This attempt ended due to poor swimming conditions and illness from ''[[Escherichia coli|E. coli]]''. The following summer he successfully completed the route, arriving at the finish in Leeuwarden on June 24, 2019. His effort raised over €6.1 million for cancer research.{{fact|date=March 2023}}

=== Elfstedentriathlon ===
The Eleven Cities Triathlon was completed for the first time by Frisian triathlete Stefan van der Pal in 2020. Within a week he swam 200 kilometres (125 miles) (five days), then cycled the trip (7 hours) and then ran the route again (32.5 hours). He raised €96000 for a foundation that is committed to research into brain stem cancer in children.

Between June 18th and 25th 2023, [[Maarten van der Weijden]] completed the Eleven Cities Triathlon. He raised over 3 million euro for cancer research. Unlike van der Pal, who ran, van der Weijden walked the last part.

== Notes==
{{Reflist |group="Note"}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
*''The Greatest Skating Race'' book by Louise Borden.

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Dutch words and phrases]]
[[Category:International speed skating competitions hosted by the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Long-distance races]]
[[Category:Speed skating in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Friesland]]