1/2 A large yacht in the Brabanthallen. (Photo: Leon Voskamp)
From a 13.5 meter long yacht to expensive sports cars and Rolex as the main sponsor. There is plenty of bling on display during the equestrian event The Dutch Masters in the Brabanthallen. It is not without reason that the entrepreneurs will be in Den Bosch for the next four days, because there will be more than 60,000 spectators. The best riders in the world often have horses that have a price tag of five or six zeros. “But it is absolutely not an event for only the elite,” says director Marcel Hunze.
There are many world top athletes in both jumping and dressage who compete in Den Bosch from Thursday to Sunday. Not surprising, because with a total prize money of 675,000 euros, there is a lot to be earned.
Director Hunze: “Since we have been part of the Rolex Grand Slam together with three other competitions, there has been much more prize money. The status has been increased and that attracts the very best riders to Den Bosch. Not only our national toppers, but also from the rest of the world.”
In the Netherlands, the tournament is known as Indoor Brabant, but due to international interest it has been called The Dutch Masters since 2018. “The global exposure is enormous. The matches are televised in more than sixty countries. Tens of thousands of people come to Den Bosch, including many from abroad. These are certainly not just people with a lot of money. You can buy tickets from 10 euros, because we want to be there for all target groups.”
“The horses travel from course to course and are used to something.”
From Thursday onwards things will go wild in the Brabanthallen. There is a main track and a second track in which, among other things, regional talent comes into action. “We have been building up for about three weeks now. We use every square meter. Soon there will be 2,500 people working there, an enormous amount of activity.”
On Wednesday afternoon it was still the calm before the storm at the stables. As of Thursday, almost all 187 spaces there have been filled. “We try to give the horses the best care,” says stable master Ward van den Berk. “These stables really cannot be compared to their own stables. But the horses travel from course to course and are used to this.”
“It has become much bigger in all areas.”
He has been involved with Indoor Brabant for 34 years. “At the age of 17 I started helping the stable master and I came back every year. The event has become much more professional over the years. It has become much bigger in all areas. Things have changed a lot for us too. Previously, the horses arrived and were assigned a spot. Nowadays there are entire lists of requests.”
Is there a specific policy regarding where the horses will be kept? “We try to separate the mares and stallions. That is certainly not the best combination this time of year.”
The Indoor Brabant matches can be seen live on Omroep Brabant TV/web/app and Brabant+:
- On Saturday, live broadcast of the spectacular derby for the Van Schijndel Bouwgroep Prijs, from 6.30 pm.
- Live broadcast of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping on Sunday from 3 p.m.
- Sunday evening on Brabant+ a summary with all the highlights of the weekend.
