The Achterhoek is a cultural region in the eastern Netherlands. Its name is geographically appropriate because the area lies in the easternmost part of Gelderland, and therefore in the east of the Netherlands, protruding into Germany. The Achterhoek lies at the East of the IJssel and Oude IJssel rivers.

From the 7th to the 14th of February 2021 we had severe winter weather with 30 cm snowfall on the 7th and the whole week temperatures down to 15 degrees Celsius below zero. Of course there are many countries where these circumstances are normal in winter, but in The Netherlands it only happens once in 10 years or so.

After a couple of days ponds and brooks were frozen, so people went out for skating the whole weekend. Young children had this opportunity for the first time of their life. In this video recordings of the country side in the east of The Netherlands plus an impression of skating fun in Bredevoort.