10/24/08: Alleged global warming cools hopes for Dutch skating race - USATODAY.com

Known locally as the Elfstedentocht, it has only been held 15 times since the first official event in 1909.

"In 2005, we calculated once in 10 years, and mainly due to warm winters that came afterwards we had to change our estimate to once every 18 years so there is ... a steep decline," one of the report's authors, Arthur Petersen, said in a telephone interview. "That's purely caused by climate change."

12/27/08 - Dutch news: Sub-zero temperatures inspire skating fever

The contest to hold the country's first outdoor ice-skating competition on naturally formed ice has been won by Haaksbergen in Twente near the German border. The race is taking place on Sunday. With the forecast of a longish period of sub-zero temperatures, many Dutch skating clubs are clearing up their race courses.

Cashing in on skating fever, factories are operating long hours to meet the demand of shops stocking up on skates. The last time the winter was cold enough to allow much skating in the open air away from rinks was 11 years ago. A whole generation of Dutch have grown up without the experience of skating in the big outdoors.