Staycation in the Netherlands: skating on natural ice (Leekstermeer, Drenthe)
The whole of the Leekstermeer in Drenthe is labouring under heavy, bumpy snow ice. The whole of it? No. One small part has a wonderfully smooth sheet of ice: hard and black.
A glorious day for skating
- The sky is bluer than blue, the sun draws rays across it. It is just about freezing and there is hardly any wind.
- It promises to be a glorious day for skating. Which naturally makes you want to know where to go as a skating enthusiast.
- In Drenthe you look first to the province's largest lake: the Leekstermeer.
Unfortunately the ice there is pretty wretched. Or is it?
The north-east side of the Leekstermeer: just like Asterix
Comic fans will recognise a reference in this article's opening.
The Asterix & Obelix comics had a similar opening, in which the whole of Gaul had been conquered. The whole of Gaul? No. One small village held out.
That metaphor is deliberate, because the north-east side of the Leekstermeer is just like Asterix. An exception to the rule. What fine skating there is here.
Getting on the ice at Paviljoen Pool, Camping Pool
It is high time to go to Matsloot. There, under the A7 and by the provincial border between Groningen and Drenthe, lies Camping Pool.
You can then get on the ice at Paviljoen Pool . Then you skate a little further east. Here the jet-black ice welcomes you warmly.
No, the circuit is not very big. Yes, the skating is superb. And the holiday cottages, the reed beds and the mirror ice make a picturesque backdrop.
Parking for skating at the Leekstermeer
It is sometimes busy, but at Camping Pool you can park easily enough. Parking is free.
Skating on natural ice
The online travel magazine dionvacation publishes blog articles about skating on natural ice.
- Almost always these are international skating trips, to the Austria of Sweden.
- Because of corona (COVID-19, do not travel) the focus shifts to the Netherlands during this spell of frost.
- Which is why in our series Staycation in the Netherlands you can now read all about fine places to skate.
Published in this series yesterday: the Paterswoldsemeer.
© dionvacation®
Magical ice between the mountains. Oases that are a feast for the eyes under the sun. Team dionvacation is made up of recreational skaters and sun lovers, people who savour life. We share that zest for life from the Weissensee all the way to the Catalan coast. The holiday home ‘Vida Daurada’ (the golden life) suits that lifestyle, between mountains and sea. All articles are written by our own travel editors. Vida Daurada sponsors the Sun destination section.