Introduction Schaatshistorie.nl
INTRO
Skating in the Netherlands has a long, unique history. Our low-lying country is ideally suited for ice skating in winter. Nowhere else in the world will you find so many people on skates during an icy winter as in the Netherlands. This was already the case in the 15th century and continues to this day. During these centuries, skating culture has undergone various developments that have led to the Netherlands remaining a leading country in this field.
Until 1975, virtually nothing was recorded about skating-related topics such as the craft of making skates, the different types of skates, and the various winter cultural customs in the Netherlands, such as ice festivals, skating disciplines, ice inns, clothing, winter dishes, and so on.
Since then, many people in the Netherlands have begun collecting information about objects and customs related to this skating culture. In 1975, some of them decided to establish the (collectors' circle) De Poolster Foundation.
STICHTING SCHAATSHISTORIE (SKATING HISTORY FOUNDATION)
The foundation originated from the aforementioned De Poolster Foundation, a group of collectors of skates and other winter accessories. Now, decades after its founding in 1975, the approximately 150 members of De Poolster have come to realize that with the onset of climatic changes, it is becoming increasingly important to preserve and safeguard the skating culture. After all, natural ice is no longer a given in winter, and with it, the culture of skating and everything associated with it is gradually disappearing.
In 2016, it was therefore decided to make the knowledge and information about the history and culture of skating acquired by its members over the years accessible to a wide audience in a contemporary way through this website. This way, the rich Dutch skating and winter culture in all its facets can be preserved and kept alive for future generations, both in the Netherlands and abroad.
With this change in the Foundation's objectives, it was also decided that the name "De Poolster" was no longer appropriate, and it was changed to "Stichting Schaatshistorie" (Skating History Foundation) in mid-2025.
However, the foundation's new name and revised objectives do not mean that De Poolster's original activities have disappeared. On the contrary, the Schaatshistorie Foundation continues to rely on its members, who, as dedicated collectors and researchers, gather and exchange information on everything related to skating in the broadest sense.
AVAILABLE CATEGORIES AND PAGES IN ENGLISH
The skate - development and models