Trains between Leeuwarden and Zwolle will again stop every 30 minutes at Heerenveen Ice Stadium station during four major skating events at Thialf in December and January: the World Cup, the Dutch all-round and sprint championships, the European all-round and sprint championships, and the Dutch distance championships. The stops will operate in both directions on competition days, from one to two hours before events begin until one to two hours after they end. The station will not be served for the World Cup qualifying tournament this weekend.

The measure continues a trial by the Province of Friesland, the municipality of Heerenveen and NS. A trial last spring found that about 12% of visitors travelled by train. Wolvega and Steenwijk stations will also continue to be served, while the regional authorities currently cover the costs and are discussing longer-term funding and arrangements.