IJsstadion Thialf
| Place
| Heerenveen
|
| Altitude
| 0 m above sea level
|
| Type
| Indoor, Artificial ice
|
Map
Heerenveen is the most famous speed skating city in the Netherlands, located in the province of Friesland, with a population of approximately 40,000.
The artificial rink Thialf Stadium was opened in 1967, as the third Dutch artificial rink after Amsterdam and Deventer. It has been one of the most used venues for international championships since the Women's European Championships were held here in 1970. Several times bad weather and bad ice preparations made the conditions far from equal. In 1980 Eric Heiden probably lost his fourth consecutive world title to Hilbert van der Duim because of this.
The wish for equal conditions led to the construction of a roof on top of the track, and in 1986 Thialf became the second indoor speed skating track, after the Sportforum in Berlin. The famous 'floating roof' in Heerenveen has no pillars around the track. It has 14,000 seats and offers the spectators a splendid view on the rink.
During the opening races in November 1986 Hilbert van der Duim set an unofficial 1 hour World Record - 39.492,80 m. The first indoor World Championships were held here in 1987. Russian skater Nikolay Gulyayev won the title, and 4 new World Records were set.
In spite of being known as one of the centres of speed skating in the world, the Heerenveen rink has been in financial troubles several times. In 1988, the track went bankrupt, and as of the 2002/2003, there are again problems, partially caused by major renovations in the previous years.
Heerenveen has brought forward several great speed skaters, like Atje Keulen Deelstra, Hans van Helden and Hilbert van der Duim.
Last updated on 22 December 2006 by Bjarte Hetland.
Tournaments
World Records
| Distance
| Time
| Skater
| Nation
| Date
|
| 1500 m Men Junior
| 1.55,90
| Masahiko Omura
| 
| 15 February 1987
|
| 1500 m Men Junior
| 1.55,76
| Ådne Søndrål
| 
| 10 March 1990
|
| 1500 m Men Junior
| 1.52,25
| Choi Jae-Bong
| 
| 6 December 1997
|
| 3000 m Men Junior
| 4.02,10
| Falko Zandstra
|
| 13 March 1990
|
| 5000 m Men Junior
| 7.01,75
| Masahiko Omura
|
| 14 February 1987
|
| 5000 m Men Junior
| 6.54,87
| Michael Spielmann
| 
| 18 March 1989
|
| Allround Men Junior
| 159.753
| Falko Zandstra
|
| 17 February 1991
|
| 1500 m Women Junior
| 2.00,08
| Song Li
| 
| 21 November 1999
|
| 3000 m Women Junior
| 4.21,12
| Anni Friesinger
| 
| 19 March 1994
|
| 3000 m Women Junior
| 4.16,25
| Kirstin Holum
| 
| 6 December 1997
|
| 1000 m Men
| 1.12,58
| Igor Zhelezovski
| 
| 25 February 1989
|
| 10000 m Men
| 14.03,92
| Geir Karlstad
|
| 15 February 1987
|
| 10000 m Men
| 13.43,54
| Johann Olav Koss
|
| 10 February 1991
|
| 10000 m Men
| 13.03,40
| Gianni Romme
|
| 26 November 2000
|
| 1500 m Men
| 1.52,70
| Nikolay Gulyayev
|
| 15 February 1987
|
| 1500 m Men
| 1.48,88
| Rintje Ritsma
|
| 20 December 1997
|
| 3000 m Men
| 3.59,27
| Leo Visser
|
| 19 March 1987
|
| 3000 m Men
| 3.57,52
| Johann Olav Koss
|
| 13 March 1990
|
| 3000 m Men
| 3.52,67
| Jelmer Beulenkamp
|
| 25 February 1998
|
| 500 m Men
| 36,55
| Nick Thometz
|
| 19 March 1987
|
| 5000 m Men
| 6.47,01
| Leo Visser
|
| 14 February 1987
|
| 5000 m Men
| 6.45,44
| Geir Karlstad
|
| 22 November 1987
|
| 5000 m Men
| 6.41,73
| Johann Olav Koss
|
| 9 February 1991
|
| 5000 m Men
| 6.38,77
| Johann Olav Koss
|
| 22 January 1993
|
| 5000 m Men
| 6.36,57
| Johann Olav Koss
|
| 13 March 1993
|
| 5000 m Men
| 6.30,63
| Gianni Romme
|
| 7 December 1997
|
| Allround Men
| 159.356
| Nikolay Gulyayev
|
| 15 February 1987
|
| Allround Men
| 157.396
| Johann Olav Koss
|
| 26 February 1991
|
| Allround Men
| 156.882
| Falko Zandstra
|
| 24 January 1993
|
| Allround Men
| 153.367
| Ids Postma
|
| 15 March 1998
|
| Small Allround Men
| 159.753
| Falko Zandstra
|
| 17 February 1991
|
| Sprint Men
| 145.945
| Igor Zhelezovski
|
| 26 February 1989
|
| 3000 m Women
| 4.16,85
| Yvonne van Gennip
|
| 19 March 1987
|
| 3000 m Women
| 4.07,80
| Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann
|
| 7 December 1997
|
| 3000 m Women
| 4.05,08
| Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann
|
| 14 March 1998
|
| 500 m Women
| 39,43
| Bonnie Blair
|
| 19 March 1987
|
| 5000 m Women
| 7.40,97
| Andrea Ehrig-Mitscherlich
|
| 23 January 1983
|
| 5000 m Women
| 7.20,36
| Yvonne van Gennip
|
| 20 March 1987
|
| 5000 m Women
| 6.55,34
| Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann
|
| 25 November 2000
|
| Allround Women
| 177.669
| Andrea Ehrig-Mitscherlich
|
| 23 January 1983
|
| Allround Women
| 163.020
| Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann
|
| 15 March 1998
|
| Sprint Women
| 159.435
| Bonnie Blair
|
| 26 February 1989
|
| Allround Men
| 152.482
| Jochem Uytdehaage
|
| 17 March 2002
|
| Allround Men
| 151.691
| Mark Tuitert
|
| 11 January 2004
|
| 5000 m Men Junior
| 6.26,63
| Sven Kramer
|
| 18 December 2004
|
| 5000 m Men Junior
| 6.24,29
| Sven Kramer
|
| 7 January 2005
|
| 10000 m Men
| 12.57,92
| Carl Verheijen
|
| 4 December 2005
|