Ice draws the Dutch(荷兰人) outdoors with a force as old as their history. Ask anyone there why, and the answer is the same: "Because there is so much water". With one-quarter of the nation below sea level and nearly half its land reclaimed from the sea, the Netherlands has many canals, lakes, rivers and waterways. When winters are cold enough, these freeze into charming avenues for skating and celebrating Dutch culture with traditional events such as races with horse-drawn old-fashioned sleighs(雪撬).
A deep freeze is rare, which adds to the attractiveness. "Our winters are influenced by the Gulf Stream and therefore are rather rainy and not very severe", says Co Rentmeester, who was born in Amsterdam. "But when winter is strong and very cold, the lakes and canals freeze, and the Dutch become Olympians. It's a national passion".
Last winter was strong enough to hold the famous Eleven Cities Tour, a 200-kilometer skating marathon through 11 towns that drew more than 16,000 skaters and haft a million onlookers. Such events give the usually antinationalistic Dutch a chance to cheer their countrymen and their accomplishments. "We can walk on water and see the lands we made with our own hands", says historian Herman Pleij with a laugh. For Dutch skating champion Ria Visser, the attractiveness is more emotional, "To be in nature with the cold and the silence and the wonderful movement of skates, it's like flying. You feel free".
Ice draws the Dutch outdoors with a force as old as their history, which means ______.

A. ice has a long history which forces the Dutch to leave their homes
B. ice is an old force in Dutch history that pushes people to engage in outdoor activities
C. ice-sports have long since been the Dutch favourite outdoor activities
D. ice-sports have long since been the force in Dutch history