Image Credit: Cas Haasdijk
This weekend marks the start of the Dutch 2025/2026 season with the Amstelbeker, where each club sends its best women’s and men’s eight to race in an unusual format. They compete in 750-metre races, one against one, in a knock-out system.
At the end of the day, the student men’s event winner will face the men’s club winner to compete for the Palmbeker. This promises excitement so early in the season.
London Rowing Club
De Hoop has dominated the men’s club event at the Amstelbeker in recent years, but last year a newcomer took home the prize. After last year’s victory, London Rowing Club is again taking part. Following a strong season, where they won both the Thames Challenge Cup and the Wyfold Challenge Cup and reached the final of the Britannia Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, they have entered a strong crew to kick-start this season. Bringing four Thames winners, three Wyfold winners and one Britannia finalist to Amsterdam, the crew from London has a strong chance this weekend.
De Hoop
As mentioned above, De Hoop dominated the men’s club event in the years prior to last season. This year, the boat dubbed the “Big Boys” has once again entered a strong crew. They consistently performed well last season, with a second place at the National Championships and a Saturday appearance in the Thames Challenge Cup. They’ve made some changes to the line-up compared with Henley Royal Regatta, so the question is whether they’re faster now.
Willem III
A crew that immediately catches the eye is that of Willem III. They possess such vast international experience and success that it makes you wonder whether they might sink under the weight of their medals. Examples include the two Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal of Tone Wieten, the Olympic silver medal of Jacob van de Kerkhof, the two-time Olympian Nelson Ritsma, and the many medals won at World Rowing Cups and U23 World Rowing Championships by the rest of the crew.
However, it remains to be seen whether this past success will translate into a win this weekend, as they have all retired from competitive rowing. To prepare for this race, they have trained only a few times per week over the last couple of weeks, so the question is, will hardened experience make up for a lack of fitness?
Prediction
As for the result, I can only expect London Rowing Club to defend their title. Their performances last year were strong, and they now have experience winning this event, so for me they are the favourites. I think the experience of Willem III will bring them to the final alongside London Rowing Club, sending De Hoop to the B-final.
