Continuing your great series of Dokkum, De Dokkumer Ee, as we call it in Holland so well captured by you! I remember when I saw my first 'Elfstendentocht' on TV all the people at this place. (I hope Cornelius can translate 'Elfstedentocht') 11 cities track on skates ; ). I am enjoying your Dokkum John! Mich

@ Mich
Thanks, Mich !, you can see on 'you tube' an impression of the:

*ELEVEN CITIES TOUR* ...click here


John

Number 1 Evert van Benthem, 2 Henri Ruitenberg, 3 Jos Niesten, with his long arms and number 4 Jan Kooiman in 1985. Last tour was in 1963! All the fathers told their children about Reinier Paping, the winner in 1963.. a legend of that o so cold winter. And each time my father told me about that winter it became even colder and colder ; ). Thank you so much John for bringing back these memories. ps I remember when my father contacted my school because I was sick that day mmmmm.. the teacher told that I wasn't the first one!

Another fine angle for this one. Well done John.

Stan

I love this series! This is a lovely angle on the bridge. I love the calm water, the delicate bridge and the windmill in the background is icing on the cake. Nicely done. ~Kim

Great shot.

Without a doubt one of the best city pictures.

Very clear and beautiful picture! And good to see something of Dokkum without the ice and the skaters!

Will try to help Michel somwewhat. The 'Elfstedentocht', where he's talking about, is a more than 200 Kilometres long skating tour over frozen canals and ditches along eleven ancient or old Frysian towns (Frysia is a Netherlands province). It can be held only in strong winters. The more than thousand skaters start very early in the morning when it's still dark. Mostly the weather conditions are severe (very low tempearatures and strong, cold winds) From time to time the skaters have to go over land (with their skates on) to another canal or when the ice under a bridge is not strong enough to bear a big number of skaters. This is called 'klunen'. Most of the European TV-channels are paying attention to this event. In Holland it's silent on the streets then, as most people are watching TV. The winner, which arrives mostly when it's dark again, becomes world famous in Holland (lol).

Your series of Dokkum, one of those eleven Frysian towns, is a wonderful one John. On this one, like Michel, already said in his above comment, we can see the canal 'Ee', famous from the 'Elfstedentocht'. Like this post a lot, because it's not only a good one, but because it brings back some memories to the event which I've tried to describe above. Very good work my friend.

Regards, Cornelius.

Very beautiful shot!!

This has a lovely soft quality to it. I love the scene.
Pat

Am so impressed and interested both about the charming image and Cornelius story.
Needless to say such image has deserved 10/10 in VB from me a moment ago.