History Of Eleven City Tour
Even though a similar tour was held in 1890, the first proper Eleven City Tour was not organized until 1909. However, the organizers, the Friesian Ice Association, stated that it would organize this event only once.
A few years later, Mindert E. Hepkema took the initiative to establish the Vereniging De Friesche Elf Steden (Association of the Eleven Frisian Cities). This marks the beginning of the tradition we have come to know as the Eleven City Tour. Let’s look back on the first century of Eleven City Tours...
In the course of the years it has become increasingly popular to participate in the Eleven City Tour on skates. However, participants have to be a member of the ‘Vereniging De Friesche Elf Steden’. Until 1985 everyone who wished could register with the Vereniging. After the tremendously popular 1985 tour, however, there was a flood of new members. As a result, a halt had to be imposed on recruitment. The maximum number of riders which can be allowed on the ice is 16,000. In the period 1991 - 1997 potential participants were given the opportunity to register. The available starting permits are raffled among them. Following is an overview of the numbers of members of the Vereniging.
| - | season 94/95 | season 95/96 | season 96/97 | season 97/98 | season 98/99 | season 99/00 |
| member with starting rights | 17017 | 16707 | 15617 | 15522 | 15171 | 14915 |
| members with with starting chance | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16482 | 16891 |
| non-skating members | 1526 | 1385 | 679 | 702 | 771 | 646 |
| honorary members | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| benefactors | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| total members | 18546 | 18096 | 16297 | 16225 | 32426 | 32455 |
| potential participants | 10256 | 9742 | 14156 | 14042 | 0 | 0 |
| total registered |
28802 | 27838 | 30453 | 30267 | 32426 | 32455 |