Jaap Eden baan, Ice rink in Watergraafsmeer, Netherlands.
Jaap Eden is a sports facility in eastern Amsterdam that features both indoor and outdoor ice surfaces with a 400-meter competition track. The layout accommodates different skating activities, from recreational skating to professional speed skating training.
Opened in 1961, the facility was only the third ice rink worldwide to feature a complete 400-meter competition track. This milestone made it an important center for developing speed skating training in the post-war era.
The venue brings together locals during winter months who come to practice and showcase their skating abilities in a social setting. It holds a special place in the city's winter life, where people of all ages gather to share this traditional pastime.
The facility operates from October through March and offers skate rentals, lessons for different skill levels, and training zones for various activities. Visitors should dress warmly and check which areas suit their chosen activity before arriving.
The facility pioneered a groundbreaking design by combining indoor and outdoor tracks, creating a new model for speed skating development worldwide. This dual-track structure allowed athletes to train year-round, which was revolutionary at the time.
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