2_3_DiscoverBenelux_Issue14_January2015_Scan Magazine 1 26/01/2015 19:59 Page 4

Discover Benelux | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader,

Discover Benelux

Martin Pilkington

Issue 14, February 2015

Matt Antoniak

Published 02.2015 ISSN 2054-7218

Silvia de Vries Simon Woolcot Steve Flinders Stine Wannebo

Published by Scan Group

Cover Photo Michael Sewandono

Print Liquid Graphic Ltd.

Advertising Executive Editor

info@discoverbenelux.com

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Mette Tonnesen

Mads E. Petersen

Yasmina Haddadi Raphaël Pousse

Editor Myriam Gwynned Dijck

Steven Ebbers Laura Mirandi Sarah Soussi

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The more temperatures start to drop below zero, the faster the hearts of the Dutch will start beating. Will it happen again this year? If you are from the Netherlands, you'll know exactly what I mean: the Elfstedentocht or Eleven Cities Tour. This gruelling, one-day ice skating event across 200 kilometres of frozen, outdoor waterways is probably the epitome of Dutch-ness. Two years ago, when a tour was on the brink of happening, all events were suspended, jobs were left for what they were and all eyes turned to Friesland, the north-western most province, where it is held. Even our Prime Minister stated the country was temporarily controlled by the tour’s ice masters, not the government. Sadly, the mythical words ‘it giet oan’ (it’s going ahead) weren’t uttered. Ice skating is part of our DNA. The moment the water freezes solid, the skates come out and young and old unite, whizzing over the slippery ice. The best ice skating is of course done outdoors, silently gliding over the dark waters below, through the frosty landscape around you. But there is always one problem: the weather.

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Cécile Dubois Elena Krumlowsky Harun Osmanovic

As legendary as it is elusive, the Elfstedentocht requires at least a week of perfect conditions: too much snow and the ice will be weak, too much wind and the ice will be cracked and bumpy, too cold and the tour becomes dangerous. Too warm and the ice will be too soft to carry each of the 20,000-30,000 skaters who take part. There have been tours in consecutive years but sometimes it takes decades before the conditions are right again. The last tour was in 1997, so we are certainly due for another. Will it happen this year? If it was up me, bring on that winter chill! If we get an Elfstedentocht in return, every cold shiver will be worth it.

Janine Sterenborg Josiah Fisk Liz Wenger

Myriam Gwynned Dijck, Editor © All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of Scan Group – a trading name of Scan Magazine Ltd. This magazine contains advertorials/promotional articles.

4 | Issue 14 | February 2015