It is a postponed party, but no less beautiful for the petanque association Atlantic Boules from Koog aan de Zaan. Petanque (better known as jeu de boules) has been played for 26 years and a tournament has been organized to celebrate the 25th anniversary. The complete Dutch top from the petanque is present at this tournament and they are proud of that.
“This is the best of the best that we can offer in the Netherlands in the field of petanque”, says competition secretary Wim Santhuizen. “They are preparing for the European Championship, which will be played in Den Bosch in July. Last week they played at the World Cup, where they made it to the last sixteen, both the men and the women.”
This is an excellent result by Dutch standards. “I had actually hoped and expected more, but that’s what they will do at the European Championship,” says Santhuizen confidently.
Hall
In order for the club to exist for another twenty-five years, two things will have to happen. “I hope that some young people can join. And one day I hope that we can get a small hall with this club, so that we can continue with our sport in the winter months,” says Santhuizen.
Boermeester adds: “The advantage of this association is that we have many volunteers (just under a hundred, ed.) so that quite a lot of work can be done ourselves. But building a hall is something else.”
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In addition to the Dutch team, the national youth selections and teams from the Top Division are also present at the tournament. Johan Mulder, one of the best players of Atlantic Boules, together with Onno Boermeester upholds the honor of Koog. “Among all those teams, we are one of the few teams that play at the second level. I am very proud that we can represent our club today.”
Around half past three this afternoon, Mulder and Boermeester reached the last sixteen of the tournament.