Dutch Beat Brits by a Hair's Breadth in FEI Nations Cup at 2025 CDIO Rotterdam

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2025 CDIO Rotterdam

-- FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage

The home team of The Netherlands edged out Team GB in the FEI Nations Cup at the 2025 CDIO Rotterdam on Thursday noon 19 June 2025.

Mistakes in the final canter and trot part of Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale's test but the door open to a Dutch victory. Team Holland finished on a total score of 215.587, less than a half-point ahead of Great Britain (215.152). Belgium finished third (205.609).

Home Victory

Outside of the arena, the pressure was on Dutch anchor rider Marlies van Baalen as last Dutch rider to go in the CDIO5* Grand Prix test. Her score on the home bred Habibi DVB (by Johnson x Don Schufro) would determine the outcome of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™. But inside the arena, van Baalen had her focus elsewhere.

"For me, it was a great test. I had no idea where we were in the competition or what score I needed to get [for us to win]. I was just focused on my horse and on the test," said Marlies van Baalen. "We all know that Rotterdam is a super nice competition with the arena, but it's not always the easiest for the horses. I was very happy that Habibi was super focused today and relaxed. I could ride a very steady test, which was enough."

Van Baalen and Habibi's 71.957% score secured a narrow victory for The Netherlands. Led by Chef d'Equipe Patrick van der Meer, the four-rider squad of van Baalen, Thamar Zweistra (Luxuriouzz), Marieke van der Putten (Kuvasz), and Hans Peter Minderhoud (Taminiau) captured the home victory in the Nations Cup.

The Netherlands was the only team to have all of its riders score above 70 percent, an impressive feat considering that three of the team's horses are aged 10 or younger.

"I have to say, we have three kind of inexperienced horses here, so they really did a good job, but they also learned good things," van der Meer said. "I think it's really important that when we ride with an audience like this, that the horses are able to relax enough, and that they can get good experience, and I think they really did a good job and managed it well."

Hans Peter Minderhoud was the team's highest scoring rider, earning a 72.739% for his test with the 10-year-old stallion Taminiau (by Toto Jr x Sandro Hit) The mark neared a personal best for the combination as they finished second individually.

"This horse hasn't done a lot of big competitions, and I think this was the biggest arena he's seen in his life so far," Minderhoud shared. "The first part [of the test], he was looking a little bit at everything, but then he went really well. He's a young horse and he hasn't seen a lot in his life until now, and he was really good."

Minderhoud finished second in the Grand Prix and the ride was an emotional one as Rotterdam is likely his last competition on Taminiau whose owner, Glock, has decided to end the sponsorship and collaboration at the end of June 2025.

Thamar Zweistra and her 9-year old Luxuriouzz (by Johnson x San Remo) finished fifth on 70.891%, while Marieke van der Putten and her second GP horse Kuvasz, a 10-year old KWPN stallion by Glamourdale x De Niro) were 6th with 70.652%. A hiccup in the extended trot and some blemishes in the pirouettes affected Kuvasz' score.

Van der Putten had also entered her number one, Zantana (by Zonik x Sir Donnerhall), for the 5* Grand Prix but withdraw after the mare developed an allergic reaction under the saddle to a bug bite. The pair is entered to compete in the Nations Cup at the CDIO Aachen in two weeks.

Two Goals

The arena in Rotterdam where the 2011 and
2019 European Championships took place

For van der Meer, his team accomplished two goals: a win on home soil and successful exposure to a big atmosphere for horses and riders with championship promise.

"Winning is always nice, especially in Rotterdam, our home country, and this competition is an amazing show with the Nations Cup. I'm really proud of my riders and all the horses," he said. "This is a really good start also for the next wave we have to get up to the European Championships (ESP) and the World Championships (GER) next year."

Strong Fight

Great Britain put up a strong fight, with Lottie Fry (GBR) bringing forward her World Champion and Olympic bronze medal-winning partner Glamourdale for the first time since winning April's FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final (SUI).

The pair put up the highest marks of the day to put their team in contention, scoring 75.109%, though mistakes down the center line of pirouettes brought their score down below their average. Glamourdale dropped out of canter in the left pirouette and Fry could not pick up the canter again fast leading to a late change at X. There was also a break in the rhythm in the final trot extension.

"I have to say, it was such an amazing test and such an amazing feeling," Fry said. "We were really working as one in the arena, and everything I asked, he gave. He was just incredible. Unfortunately, there was quite a big misunderstanding, which we didn't get back from very easily, so two very expensive marks there, but apart from that I was so happy coming out [of the arena] because of the feeling he gave, and he was so happy to be doing it. He was really excited, and you don't need more than that."

Fry anchored the British team that featured several young Grand Prix horses. The second best British score came from the experienced Olympic medal winner Laura Tomlinson on her 9-year old home bred Oldenburg Full Moon (by Furstenball x Gribaldi) who is in his first season at Grand Prix level. They scored 70.956% for 4th place.

Team newbies Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina (by Dante Weltino x Charatan W) landed 11th place with 69.087%. The elegant mare showed plenty of promise but appeared very green in the Grand Prix work, often dropping in the poll and not yet able to carry the weight behind, but in their third CDI at Grand Prix level and their first on European soil, they showed tons of talent.

Thomas Goode and the 10-year old Oldenburg gelding Furstenrausch PS (by Furstenball x Festrausch) redeemed themselves after a not so ideal Nations Cup debut in Compiegne. The two were now much more on song and the black gelding showed much technique in the piaffe and passage, but could stretch a bit more over the topline and work more in front of the aids. With 68.609% they placed 14th.

Belgium Third

After a historic Nations Cup win on home turf at the CDIO Lier in May, the Belgians were back on the podium in Rotterdam for third place. Only three nations competing in Rotterdam this year.

Thamar Zweistra on Luxuriouzz walking past the
statue of Erasmus, the renowned Dutch humanist

The best performing Belgian was Amandine Prevost aboard the 15-year old DSP stallion Quaterdance (by Quaterback x Expose). They were 9th with 69.435%.

The father-daughter duo Wim and Jorinde Verwimp contributed the two other scores. Wim and the Korean owned Jedai de Massa (by Don Juan de Hus x Galopin de la Font) were 15th with 68.587%, while Jorinde and her own 13-year old Oldenburg Charmer (by Charmeur x Quattro B) were 17th with 67.587%.

Belgium's fourth rider was Suraya Hendrikx who rode her 14-year old Westfalian gelding Dear Friend (by Danone x Dollmann) to 63.130% and a 20th place.