Skating on a frozen canal near the windmills at Kinderdijk, Netherlands
© Lourens Smak/Alam
'Winterpret' on ice
These skaters in the village of Kinderdijk are embracing 'winterpret,' a Dutch word that means 'winter joy' or 'winter fun.' Whenever temps drop low enough, many locals take to the ice and skate away on a complex network of canals. These waterways were built centuries ago—along with pumps, dikes, and the windmills pictured here—to protect the village of Kinderdijk by diverting water from the land. It's an important job, since Kinderdijk, like much of the Netherlands, lies below sea level and flooding is a major problem. Nowadays a modern water management system with multiple pumping stations does the work, and the windmills are left with a new job–to maintain an iconic Dutch scene. In 1997, the Kinderdijk windmills were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Related Images
Golden Hall in Stockholm City Hall for today's Nobel Prize award ceremonies
Crown Fountain by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa, Millennium Park, Chicago
Alphorn musicians perform during the International Alphorn Festival in Nendaz, Switzerland
Adélie penguins at Possession Island, Antarctica
The front line of demonstrators during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963
Arctic surfing in the Lofoten Islands, Norway, for the Lofoten Masters
Jemaa el-Fnaa Square in Marrakesh, Morocco
At the top of Mount Fuji in Japan
Bing Today Images
