Ice skating in Zeeland: Unrecorded by-laws of a Goes ice skating club

It doesn’t get more Dutch than this: an unrecorded edition of the by-laws of an ice skating club in Goes, Zeeland, with manuscript additions.

In early 1879, when freezing temperatures turned the canals into skating rinks, citizens of Goes founded Vereeniging IJsvermaak, the town’s first ice skating club. They drew up official regulations to mark the occasion, presented on 10 November 1879. The club’s mission was twofold:

• Het verdelen, bevorderen en regelen van het ijsvermaak, door het in orde brengen en houden der ijsbanen

(To distribute, promote, and regulate ice-related amusements by preparing and maintaining the skating rinks)

• Het organiseeren van ijsfeesten zoowel voor hare leden en het publiek, als voor minvermogende kinderen

(To organize ice festivals for its members, the general public, and children from underprivileged families)

This rare publication offers a unique glimpse into Dutch late 19th-century skating culture, a sport deeply tied to the national identity. It reflects the passion for ice and competition, a strong sense of community, and social responsibility.

A remarkable piece of Dutch sports history and a valuable addition to any collection on ice skating, Dutch culture, or 19th-century ephemera. Don’t miss the chance to preserve this slice of Zeeland’s frozen past.