The Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival 2024-2025 | Netherlands Ijsbeelden Festival Biddinghuizen 2024-2025

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Disclaimer: The images in this article are a collection of ice sculptures from various editions of the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival.

Welcome to the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival!

Welcome to a magical frosty wonderland where ice crystals melt your heart; where world’s top 45 ice artists (also known as ‘carvers’) from 16 different countries come together to transform 550 tons of ice and snow into 100 breathtaking artworks. Welcome to the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival!

What is the theme of this year’s Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival?

Each year the ‘carvers’ are allowed to let their creativity go wild on a new captivating theme. This year's theme is "An Undiscovered World." Embark on an enchanting odyssey across our beautiful planet and beyond. The sculptures made of ice and snow will depict the world's natural beauty as well as its intriguing and hidden aspects. Meander through lush forests, traverse the deepest oceans, ascend to the highest altitudes, stroll past life-size mammoths, and meet aliens in a far-off galaxy. Light, sound, and projections will all be used to create amazing special effects that will heighten the shimmering drama.

Who organizes the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival?

The main creative stars behind the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival are Roos Driessen and Eva Gutteridge who ensure that every edition is a unique experience with their dazzling vision and unwavering dedication.

What to See at the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival?

With over 100 ice and snow sculptures up to 6 meters (20 feet) tall displayed within a 1,500 square meter hall maintained at -10 degrees Celcius, this edition is the largest and most beautiful yet. The international master ice artists use chainsaws, chisels, gas burners, and other equipment to create these amazing masterpieces on over 550 tons of ice and snow.

What Else to Do at the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival?

The Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival is a fun family outing. In addition to taking a stroll around the striking sculptures, there are kid-friendly activities like a play area, and a treasure hunt among others. There is also a restaurant at the venue where you can have snacks or lunch or warm yourself up with a cup of hot chocolate.

Special Exhibition - Subzero Street Art

This year, the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival is featuring a special exhibition - SubZero, the Netherlands' most striking street art! 22 leading artists have produced pieces for this special show that are ideally suited to the topic of ‘An Undiscovered World’ and the ambiance of the Ice Sculpture Festival. The exhibition highlights the diversity and depth of the street art culture in the Netherlands. These artists produce pieces that are exhibited as famous murals or in galleries all around the world.

To learn more about the artists involved, visit kingsofcolors.com/subzero

Sustainability

The organizers of the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival use rainwater to make the ice sculptures, which they return back to nature after the festival. To reduce energy usage, they employ solar panels and locally produced energy wherever feasible. In this way, they ensure that we can take in stunning artwork while minimizing the environmental impact!

Visiting the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival

Address: Flevo Nice, Strandgaperweg 20, 8256 PZ Biddinghuizen

GPS Coordinates: 52.4203° N, 5.6939° E

Trip map created with Wanderlog, an itinerary planner on iOS and Android

Dates: 14 December, 2024 to 2 March, 2025 (closed on 1 January, 2025)

Hours: The opening hours of the festival are as follows -

  • Weekdays: 10:00 to 17:00 CET

  • Weekends: 09:30 to 17:30 CET

  • Public Holidays: 09:00 to 17:30 CET (barring 1 January, 2025 when it is closed)

Parking: Paid on-site parking.

Public Transport: From wherever you are, travel to the Harderwijk Station or Dronten Station. From there, take bus 147 to the Bremerbergweg Festival stop. You can ride the special Ice Sculpture Shuttle Bus from Bremerbergweg to the festival grounds and back on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Dress: Dress appropriately to stay warm enough for a couple of hours at -10 degrees Celcius. Get your caps and gloves.

Food and Drinks: Bringing your own food and beverages to the festival is prohibited. However, there is a restaurant at the venue where you can have snacks or lunch or warm yourself up with a cup of hot chocolate.

Accessibility: The Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival is completely accessible for guests with disabilities. Wheelchair users' companions are admitted free of charge. Wheelchairs are also accessible during the event, as are designated parking spots for visitors with disabilities.

Pets: Pets, guide, and assistance dogs are allowed at the festival.

Group Visit: If you want to attend the festival in a large group like that with your colleagues at work or a school trip, we recommend that you get in touch with the organization ahead of time at the Email IDs mentioned below. There is a discount for attending with groups over 30.

Tickets: To prevent disappointment at the door, we advise buying your time-slot tickets online in advance. Select the day and time that work best for you. However, if you have made a last-minute decision to attend you can also purchase tickets (for vacant time slots) at the self-service kiosks located on the festival grounds. To book tickets in advance, please visit their official website mentioned below.

Official Website of the Organizers: ijsbeelden.nl

Official Email IDs of the Organizers: info@ijsbeelden.nl

Epilogue

So that was all about the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival 2024-2025. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article.

And if you are interested in visiting other ice sculpture festivals in the Netherlands, please read our article Art Below Zero Amsterdam Ice Sculpture Festival 2024-2025 | Art Below Zero Ijsbeelden Festival Amsterdam, or if you want to know about all festivals in the Netherlands, please read our article Netherlands Festival Calendar 2025-2026 | Upcoming Annual Events and Festivals in the Netherlands, or if you want to explore some more hidden treasures in the Netherlands, please read our article Netherlands Off The Beaten Track | 43 Best Hidden Gems in the Netherlands, or if you want to know about more such places to take fantastic pictures in the Netherlands, please read our article Instagrammable Netherlands | 39 Best Photography Locations in the Netherlands | 39 Top Photo Spots in the Netherlands. Until then, merry traveling and happy shooting!


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About the Author

Shirshendu Sengupta

Shirshendu Sengupta is an award-winning photographer and travel blogger based in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, the Netherlands. His images and articles have been featured in several international magazines, journals, newspapers, and websites.

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