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Amsterdam Canals Freeze Solid, Turning City Into Impromptu Ice Rink (PICTURES, VIDEO)

Amsterdam Canal

Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 10/02/2012 12:44 Updated: 10/02/2012 14:24

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Parts of Amsterdam’s canal system have frozen solid for the first time in over a decade.

Residents took full advantage of the occurrence and strapped on their skates to glide down the scenic waterways.

At the start of February most canals were closed to water traffic in order to allow the ice to form.

It follows a similar situation in Venice last week, which saw the city’s famous canal froze over as temperatures dipped as low as -10C.

The cold snap has had a big visual impact across Europe with ice sculptures cropping up across the continent.

Frozen Europe
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People skate on the frozen canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday Feb. 8, 2012. In Amsterdam, several of the city's famous canals have frozen over, giving residents a rare opportunity to skate lined by waterfront houses.
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<a href='http://news.uk.msn.com/video-clips/?videoid=650ed8b1-be9b-4d22-83b2-5aef0cdfd33b&src=v5:embed::' target='_new' title='Skating The Canals Of Amsterdam' >Video: Skating The Canals Of Amsterdam</a>
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Parts of Amsterdam’s canal system have frozen solid for the first time in over a decade. Residents took full advantage of the occurrence and strapped on their skates to glide down the scenic wat...
Parts of Amsterdam’s canal system have frozen solid for the first time in over a decade. Residents took full advantage of the occurrence and strapped on their skates to glide down the scenic wat...
 
 
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lunkenco
13 Fans
10:08 PM on 02/12/2012
All our Dutch relatives and friends
enjoy the ice while it lasts,
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
deerinmw
I don't mean to rock the boat, but ...
201 Fans
12:43 AM on 02/12/2012
Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates - an all time favorite childhood story. Wonder if they still hold the races when the canals freeze over.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DavidEvan
voted for the party of yes
564 Fans
10:38 PM on 02/11/2012
HP messs up again. No IOS Pics or video available in either app or site
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
billnbstn
I have no micro
398 Fans
06:06 PM on 02/11/2012
No tears from here.
The Northeast US has experienced an extraordinary mild winter this year. Last year at this time it was like living on the Moon, here in Boston.
The price of this serendipity is that Europe is getting Hammered!
Too bad, I pay $ 3.57 per Gal. for heating oil and I've used 400 less year.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Janalina
153 Fans
03:44 PM on 02/11/2012
I have been to a lot of big cities in Europe and Amsterdam is hands down my favorite! Great city, people, art food, entertainment and one can bike everywhere!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
TFlint
971 Fans
03:26 PM on 02/11/2012
The return of Hans Brinker
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
hattie54
249 Fans
04:30 AM on 02/11/2012
I hope they can have their 11 city race on Sunday.It was cancelled coz canals for those races are thick enough,ice wise.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
niceguy71653
336 Fans
12:29 AM on 02/11/2012
That would sure make it easier to criss cross the streets to look at the prostutes!
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trvlgfool
28 Fans
11:21 AM on 02/11/2012
Sooo many more things in Amsterdam besides prostitutes! Great art, great food and history galore. You should check it out.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
niceguy71653
336 Fans
03:40 PM on 02/11/2012
It was a joke. You are right there is a lot more to do. But it as fun to look at the prostitutes too. Something different!
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Little Miss Cupcake
2 Fans
12:22 AM on 02/11/2012
I'm just amazed at how many people own their own ice skates!
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carinined
76 Fans
12:26 AM on 02/11/2012
seriously lol it looks fun
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Koeiseun
97 Fans
03:10 AM on 02/11/2012
Skating in rinks is a popular hobby in The Netherlands
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hattie54
249 Fans
04:29 AM on 02/11/2012
The country churns out famous speed skaters.They have 11 or 12 Olympic sized ovals in their tiny country.
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Little Miss Cupcake
2 Fans
01:59 PM on 02/11/2012
That would explain it then!! In that case I'm not surprised!
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ladypandora86
9 Fans
11:54 PM on 02/10/2012
Oh that sucks! See those little boats on the side? Those are actually people's homes. I saw a TV show about it, they look tiny on the outside but are fully functioning homes on the inside - bed, bath, kitchen...etc. Having your house freeze does not sound enjoyable at all.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Gudrun
My micro-bio is empty
3258 Fans
 
02:22 AM on 02/11/2012
I've been wondering happens to those house boats.
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jefe
liberal at large
243 Fans
11:14 PM on 02/10/2012
How fun!
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llaurie21
67 Fans
10:42 PM on 02/10/2012
Baby it's cold outside......
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jingl
254 Fans
09:50 PM on 02/10/2012
Global Warming is wrong terminology ... Should be "extreme weather" but that's not catchy. Anyway, this looks like old Dutch Master paintings - very neat.
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mrpell
365 Fans
09:47 PM on 02/10/2012
Frozen solid? Really?
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Wild4u2LOL
23 Fans
08:32 PM on 02/10/2012
looks like fun
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