Two weeks ago I went to visit my Aunt and Uncle in a city about 60km from where I'm studying here in Groningen. It is in Freisland which a part of the Netherlands that would all but like to break away and become there own country. (Not really) There have their own langauge, sports and culture. They have interesting things like canal pole-vaulting and a speed skating race that happens only when it freezes hard enough to freeze the canals. It is 200km long and has only been held 15 times since the first race 100 years ago. Notice the photo montage in of all the finishers in the background.