Last tickets: kick off the weekend with short track on Friday afternoon in Tilburg

The ISU Odido Short Track European Championships 2026 will take place at the IJssportcentrum in Tilburg: three days of top-level sport, TeamNL, razor-sharp turns and a packed arena. Europe’s best short track skaters come together for the final major showdown ahead of the Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are completely sold out, but there is still availability on Friday afternoon to start the weekend in style.

Final showdown before the Games

The Netherlands has belonged to the absolute European and global elite for years. From groundbreaking performances to iconic athletes, short track has built a strong reputation in this country, with an impressive medal haul and a large fan base. Hosting a European Championship on Dutch soil at this moment underlines that position. For fans, it is also a unique opportunity to see the European and Dutch stars up close one last time, without travelling to the Games in Italy.

With the exception of Suzanne Schulting, who is currently focusing on long track speed skating but will later represent the Netherlands in Olympic short track, the national top is present in Tilburg. In the men’s competition, Jens van ’t Wout, Melle van ’t Wout, Teun Boer, Itzhak de Laat and Friso Emons will compete; in the women’s field, Xandra Velzeboer, Michelle Velzeboer, Selma Poutsma, Diede van Oorschot and Zoë Deltrap. The European Championships serve as the final major test before the Games and an important sharpening moment for TeamNL under head coach Niels Kerstholt.

Don’t miss this

Interest is huge: the sessions on Saturday and Sunday are completely sold out. Tickets are still available for Friday. That day offers an attractive mix of sport and atmosphere, creating a lively and energetic crowd. Tickets for the Friday afternoon session are still on sale—a perfect chance to experience short track up close and start the weekend right.

See this link for tickets to the ISU Odido Short Track European Championships – Schaatsen.nl

Farewell to Sjinkie Knegt

The final day of the tournament, Sunday 18 January, will carry extra significance. After the races on Sunday, there will be an official farewell to Sjinkie Knegt. At the beginning of December, he announced the end of his career. For years, he was the face of Dutch short track—on and off the ice. Without Knegt, short track would not be where it is today. His farewell will be a fitting and emotional conclusion to a special European Championship.

Tilburg: a city where ice sports truly live

During a training session of the Dutch team, Maarten van Asten, Alderman for Sport and Events of Tilburg, was present at the rink. The city clearly profiles itself as a home base for ice sports—not only for elite sport, but also for grassroots participation and the future.

What does the presence of the Dutch team mean for Tilburg?

“Tilburg is a city where ice sports truly live. We are proud to host this event and to see the Netherlands perform strongly here. And of course, it would be extra special if our own Tilburg athlete Friso Emons does well here.”

Does this commitment go beyond this event?

“Absolutely. Our ambition goes further than today. We are investing extra in ice sports to better support clubs and we continue to focus on sustainability. In addition, we are looking at expanding ice capacity—for the Tilburg Trappers, but also to create more room for short track. And honestly, if we had more seats, we would sell them without hesitation.”