Amsterdam, The Netherlands – July 01, 2025 – National coach Wout-Jan van der Schans has announced the names of the four TeamNL combinations plus reserve for the European Jumping Championship, which will take place from 16 to 20 July in La Coruña, Spain. The selection consists of a nice mix of experience and debuting riders, and for Van der Schans his first team composition for a major championship turned out to be a no-brainer. “It was quite clear to me. I have every confidence in this selection.”
The selected riders and horses are the following:
- Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) & Beauville Z N.O.P.
- Kim Emmen (NED) & Imagine N.O.P.
- Willem Greve (NED) & Pretty Woman van ‘t Paradijs
- Hessel Hoekstra (NED) & Comthago VDL
Reserves:
Michael Greeve (NED) & Denver
Proven at the Highest Level
The routine of this Dutch team comes first from Van der Vleuten and his fifteen-year-old world star, who is still making his debut at a European Championship after great successes at two Olympic Games and a World Cup. That certainly does not apply to his rider, who will be riding in his sixth European Championship. Emmen and twelve-year-old Imagine N.O.P. have now clearly proven themselves at the highest level and will go for their second championship in a row after Paris 2024. As a rider, Greve brings more than enough championship experience and is making his ten-year-old chestnut mare, with which he won the Dutch title earlier this season, debut at a European Championship.
Hoekstra and his eleven-year-old stallion Comthago VDL and reserve Greeve and his ten-year-old Denver are both making their debut. While Hoekstra will get his first taste of riding in a major, multi-day championship at the age of 25, Greeve will experience this at the age of 43.
Gaining Experience
Van der Schans indicates in a response that making this selection was not a difficult choice. He says: “It showed itself a bit. Hessel showed himself very well, also at the National Championships and in Rotterdam, and the same applies to Michael and Denver. They are combinations that show that they can hold their own at the higher level. Michael is of course a very experienced rider and he can participate in the entire championship as a reserve on an individual basis. Two years ago, Kim also gained experience for the first time at the European Championships in Milan. That turned out very well and I hope to do the same with Hessel and Michael. They will first go to Aachen this week to get acquainted with the site where the World Cup will be held next year and then take part in the championship in Spain two weeks later. This way we hope to get new combinations next year. This European Championship remains important, but is not a qualification for the Olympic Games, so you can try something out.
Source: Press Release from the Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS)
Photo: © FEI / Benjamin Clark
