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.
Triton
Last year’s winner, Triton, will be aiming to retain their title. With only one returning rower, Toon Clabbers, this year’s task falls to a new generation. Although few of the crew have competed in previous editions, they are certainly not inexperienced rowers.
The stern four consists of athletes who enjoyed a strong season last year in the coxed four, including a solid Henley Royal Regatta campaign in the The Prince Albert Challenge Cup. Behind them sits Edwin den Beer Poortugael, part of the Dutch U23 eight that competed at last year’s World Rowing Championships.
What this crew lacks, however, is experience as a unit. Unlike many opponents this weekend, they raced very little in the eight last season. Their only real result is a fifth-place finish at the Heineken Roeivierkamp, where they lost to Nereus, Laga, Aegir and another Nereus crew.
Nereus
After losing to Triton in last year’s final, Nereus will be eager to claim the win this time. They have entered a crew that strongly resembles the boat that reached the Saturday at Henley Royal Regatta in the Temple Challenge Cup this year, and additionally strengthened by Willem Stoop, stroke of their Prince of Wales Challenge Cup quad last year. This crew was the fastest of the crews competing this weekend at both the Heineken Roeivierkamp and the National Championships last season, making them strong contenders for victory.
Laga
Another club entering a crew similar to their Henley Royal Regatta Temple Challenge Cup line-up is Laga. This boat has been performing well over the past two years, winning numerous races last season. Several rowers earned U23 vests over the past years, including Gertjan Bruins and Maarten Lagrand, in the eight at the last World Rowing Championships.
Given their consistency and pedigree, Laga will undoubtedly be a strong contender.
Aegir
Over the past few years, Aegir have steadily developed a promising group of rowers who started at the club only a couple of years ago. Led by the more experienced Jelle Bakker and Gunnar van den Hoogen, they are already reaping the rewards of this development. Last season, they won several races and even set a club record; they will be eager to prove their progress hasn’t stopped there.
Underdogs
Two crews that may not be among the favourites but could surprise are Skoll and Okeanos.
Skoll features Nicolaas Dirkzwager and Percijn van Haeringen at seven seat and stroke, both members of Talent Team NL.
Okeanos boasts Kevin-Lee Bieshaar, stroking the boat, backed up by Oeds Blom in the seven-seat, a two-time U23 World Rowing Championship competitor. In bow sits Cornelus Palsma, a Frenchman with multiple medals from U23 World Rowing Championships and World Cups in the lightweight quad and double.
Although both crews include some very strong individuals, the overall line-ups may not be enough to place them among the main favourites.
Prediction
Based on last season’s results and performances in previous editions of the Amstelbeker, I expect Nereus to walk away with the win. I predict they will beat Laga in the final, with Triton and Aegir contesting the B final.
However, given how early this race is in the season and the unusual format, we may well be in for a surprise this weekend.
