AMSTERDAM — If there’s one thing Amsterdam is known for, it’s its laidback attitude. So when the city’s famous canals froze over last week, no one was surprised when locals simply shrugged, strapped on a pair of skates and headed on their merry way.
Ice skating has become the new norm in Amsterdam, where Winter Storm Emma has led to below-freezing temperatures and frozen canals. The epic storm has wreaked havoc across many parts of Europe and the U.K., causing transport delays, extreme low temperatures, gas deficits and record snowfalls.
But while much of their European counterparts have been digging itself out of the snow, the people of Amsterdam are making the best of the situation by skating down its canals and generally having a great ol’ time. Videos and photos of impromptu hockey games and leisurely skates have been uploaded on Twitter, with one video catching a rather swift speed skater making his way down the ice.
Now THAT’s what we call a great commute to work!
These ice skaters are taking advantage of the cold in #Amsterdam. Freezing temps caused the canals to #ice over for the first time in six years! We’d grab a selfie stick and hit the ice too. pic.twitter.com/FGpFi4RaZf
— AMHQ (@AMHQ) March 5, 2018
Locals playing ice hockey on the frozen Prinsengracht canal in #Amsterdam pic.twitter.com/Io4EAVyuzX
— Keith Jenkins (@velvetescape) March 3, 2018
A rare skate on the canals in #amsterdam. I love this city #traveltales pic.twitter.com/dCv1jLTY6J
— Cynthia Mulligan (@CityCynthia) March 3, 2018
✨Look at this Ice✨#iceinamsterdam #Amsterdam #Netherlands #Holland #dutch pic.twitter.com/ERhHjU3zjg
— Christina (@een_wasbeer) March 3, 2018
