Going into the League of Nations 2025 season, The Netherlands is qualified after finishing eighth last year with 11,625 points, just 18 points behind Switzerland.
Maikel Van de Vleuten on Beauville (Photo from the FEI)Netherlands had a strong end to the 2024 season, placing second to Germany in the Final in Barcelona last October.
Netherlands has twice won Team Jumping at the World Equestrian Games, in 2006 in Aachen and in 2014 in Normandy, France, it was the Team Champion at the Olympic Games in 1992 in Barcelona, and won the team silver medal at the World Championship in 2022 in Herning, Denmark.
“Competing at the League of Nations, the highest level of international Jumping, is a great honor,"said Jantien van Zon from the Dutch Equestrian Federation. "We are proud of the results we’ve achieved over the years and remain committed to maintaining our excellent standing in the sport.”
“The competition season always offers a rich choice of events, even without the Olympics and World Championships in the mix," she said. "But we always strive to have our best combinations ready for the League of Nations, because it is so prestigious and well-supported by nations and fans, and we want to be fully part of that excitement for both the honor and for our supporters.”
THE TEAM'S best moment from 2024 was its silver medal performance in the League of Nations Final in Barcelona.
Led by chef d’equipe and renowned international competitor Jos Lansink of Belgium, the team scored 16 points, narrowly missing gold after a gripping head-to-head with Germany.
This year will see a few changes, including a new Chef d’équipe, Wout- Jan van der Schans, whom Netherlands promise will be trying to deliver strong results in the upcoming season.
Van der Schans has had a formidable competition career himself, representing the Netherlands at the World Championship in 1986 in Aachen and the Olympic Games in 1988 in Seoul, as well as having competed in four World Cup Finals and three European Championships.
Fan support has always been a cornerstone of the Netherlands’ success.
“In Rotterdam, we had a sea of orange cheering us on,” van Zon said. “Our fans, owners, and sponsors love the League of Nations, and we are so grateful for their continued support.”
With Rotterdam back on the calendar for 2025, the Dutch will use the home ground advantage as all teams fight it out over the four qualifying legs - Rotterdam, Abu Dhabi, and Gassin-St Tropez , France - to secure its place again at the League of Nations Final in Barcelona this October.
The League of Nations 2025 season begins in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 11, 2025, with only the top eight teams making it through to the Final in Barcelona in October.
