Kruiend ijs – Drifting ice in The Netherlands
In February 2012, a rare phenomenon occurred in The Netherlands. The fascinating appearance of ‘kruiend ijs’ – drifting ice, a sight that is usually confined to (sub) Arctic environments much further north.
Huge sheets of chunky ice blocks washed up on the shore and piled several meters high around the IJsselmeer and Afsluitdijk – the dike that was constructed to dam the former inland sea Zuiderzee, in order for a whole new province to be pumped up from below the enclosed waters.
Piles of kruiend ijs at the shores around Urk.
One of the places where this unusual phenomenon was most visible was at the fishing village and former island of Urk – now enclosed by the new land since the province of Flevoland was created during the 1940’s and 1950’s.
The shifting and drifting ice is caused by strong winds occurring after a prolonged period of frosty temperatures. Ice sheets that have formed on the surface of large bodies of water are gradually pushed onto the shore by a combination of prevailing currents and wind.
Arctic scenes in The Netherlands
As the ice sheets are blown across the water, they collide and crash into each other, creating iceberg-like piles of jumbled cubes when they reach the shore.
They attracted huge amounts of visitors from all over the country, marvelling at the bizarre otherworldy Arctic scenes, and frolicking on the ice blocks.
Iceberg lagoon at the IJsselmeer.
Black and white ice, and frozen rain on the lake.
Drifting ice along the shores of IJsselmeer.
(c) Nancy Claus – Wilderness Coffee & Natural High
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