Exceptionally rare 19th-century Dutch ice skating songs

In 1895, long before the Dutch discovered ecstasy, children found their thrills on the ice. And thanks to Groninger schoolteacher Eppo Jan Boneschanscher (1852–1912), they could skate to the rhythm of specially written songs.

This delightful booklet, Op het ijs! 5 Tweestemmige IJsliedjes, was designed for schools, families, and children’s choirs. Printed in Groningen by Van der Kamp in 1895, it combines music in both traditional notation and the Chevé method, an innovative system to make music more accessible. Boneschanscher, known for organizing ice skating competitions, added his melodies to the winter fun. 

The present copy is a remarkable survival: the quires remain unstitched, unopened, and uncut, exactly as it left the printer’s shop. Its appeal is undeniable for collectors of rare 19th-century Dutch sheet music, skating ephemera, or children’s songbooks. 

WorldCat lists only two institutional holdings: in the Nederlands Muziekinstituut (The Hague) and the Groninger University Library. In other words, this is most likely your only chance to acquire this piece of Dutch ice skating and music history.