History and Glory of Speed Skating – Dutch Ice Culture Comes to Rho

( Storia e Gloria del Pattinaggio di Velocità – La cultura olandese del ghiaccio arriva a Rho)

During the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, Rho will be one of the main international stages of sport. The city will host the Olympic venue for long-track speed skating and ice hockey competitions. For two weeks, Rho will become the beating heart of the Winter Games.

Within this unique Olympic context, from 7 to 22 February 2026, the historic Villa Burba (Corso Europa 291), located just a short distance from the ice arena, will host the exhibition “History and Glory of Speed Skating – Dutch Ice Culture Comes to Rho.”

A Unique Exhibition

“With this unique exhibition in Rho, Italian and international audiences will have the opportunity to discover the rich skating culture that is deeply rooted in the Netherlands and increasingly significant in Italy as well. The exhibition shows that skating is much more than an elite sport: it is a story of tradition, innovation, and international connections. These stories enrich the Olympic moment and provide cultural context to the world-class sport we will witness during the Milano Cortina 2026 Games,” says Michael Stibbe, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Italy.

The exhibition tells the story of a sport that is an essential part of national winter identity in the Netherlands and is becoming increasingly popular in Italy, particularly thanks to Olympic successes in short track and speed skating. Athletes such as Enrico Fabris, Olympic champion and a symbolic figure in Italian skating, have helped introduce this discipline to a wider audience. Today, the entire city of Rho is cheering for Riccardo Lorello, the young local athlete set to compete in the Winter Olympic Games in his home city.

Rho: The Global Heart of Skating

The exhibition also highlights the special bond between Rho and Heerenveen, the Dutch city that hosts the iconic Thialf Ice Stadium, widely regarded as the global temple of long-track speed skating.

“In the Netherlands, skating is in our DNA—not only because of Olympic medals, but also because in the past ice eliminated distances. When canals and lakes froze, rich and poor alike could travel from one city to another on the ice. The exhibition in Rho, which becomes the global heart of skating during the Winter Games, once again brings distances closer. It shows how local cooperation between Rho and Heerenveen, as well as national and international collaboration, contributes to innovation, speed, and sustainability for the future,” says Mascha Baak, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Milan.

“We cannot boast the same rich tradition as the Netherlands, but we do have young sporting talents who are taking up speed skating—an exciting discipline we are learning to follow and appreciate,” comments Andrea Orlandi, Mayor of Rho. “This exhibition is a great opportunity to strengthen an international partnership that promotes understanding of a European country with a truly fascinating sporting history.”

What Can Visitors See?

The exhibition also draws on the collection of the Frisian Skating Museum (Eerste Friese Schaatsmuseum), which houses the world’s largest collection of skates. One section is dedicated to the legendary Elfstedentocht, a 199-kilometre skating marathon across eleven Frisian cities in the northern Netherlands. This event can only take place during periods of severe frost and has been held just twelve times in the past hundred years. Photographs, historical footage, and original objects bring this extraordinary achievement to life.

Beyond Sport

The exhibition presents skating as a social and cultural phenomenon, not merely an elite sport. Historically, ice skating in the Netherlands reduced social differences, with men and women participating as equals. As early as the 19th century, women’s competitions attracted tens of thousands of spectators.

With the decline of natural ice due to milder winters, skating shifted toward artificial tracks and indoor arenas, sparking a wave of innovation: covered ice rinks, clap skates, aerodynamic suits, and increasingly modern and sustainable facilities. This evolution continues today, with a clear focus on the future.

Collaboration

The exhibition is made possible through collaboration between the Municipality of Rho, Municipality of Heerenveen, Province of Friesland, Thialf Ice Stadium, Region Heerenveen ‘n Gouden Plak (regional promotion organization), and NOC*NSF (Dutch Olympic Committee).

The exhibition is curated by Marco Lubbers of Catch Your Moment and takes place under the auspices of and co-organised by the Embassy and the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Italy.

Opening Hours

• Monday to Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

• Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Information

For further information, please contact the Cultural Affairs Office:
📧 cultura@comune.rho.mi.it
📞 +39 02 93332269 / 238 / 518