If you have never seen speed skating in the Netherlands, Thialf is where it makes sense. The Dutch treat this sport the way South Africans treat rugby, and a World Cup weekend in Heerenveen means a packed stand, a brass band and a lot of orange.
The third World Cup round of the 2026/27 season lands on the Sinterklaas weekend, so expect a few Pieten in the crowd too. Even if you cannot name a single skater, the noise when a Dutch rider hits the final straight is worth the trip north.
- When: Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December 2026
- Where: Thialf, Pim Mulierlaan 1, Heerenveen
- Tickets: sold through schaatsen.nl, check the official site for prices and session times
- Getting there: trains run to Heerenveen station, about 2 km from the rink, with local buses and taxis for the last stretch.
Good to know: the ice hall is cold, so bring a warm layer and a hat even though you are indoors.
Planning your year? See everything on the events calendar.
