Raijmakers, Twint, De Bock, Van Dulst, Luiten, Van der Putten Win 2026 Dutch Dressage Championships

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2026 Dutch Dressage Championships

Pony rider Fabiënne Raijmakers, children rider Neeltje Twint, junior rider Annabell de Bock, young rider Anniek van Dulst, Under 25 rider Marten Luiten, and senior Grand Prix rider Marieke van der Putten became the winners of the 2026 Dutch Dressage Championships in Ermelo on 28 - 31 May 2026.

Seniors: Van der Putten Wins First Title

The senior Grand Prix division was the feature class of the weekend as it served as first official team selection trial for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen. As the number one Dutch pair since Hermes' retirement last summer, Marieke van der Putten and Saskia Lemmens' 12-year old Oldenburg mare Zantana (by Zonik x Sir Donnerhall) travelled to Ermelo as the hot favourites for the gold.

The fully Dutch judging panel (Rothenberger, Verbeek, Sanders, Wolters, Van Twist) pulled the big scores out of their pockets, typical for most confidence boosting national championships. Van der Putten and Zantana won the Grand Prix with 77.935% and the freestyle with 87.84% for an easy overall victory.

"Fantastic"

“This is fantastic. I really rode very well too," Van der Putten said on Sunday. "That is the most important thing to me, but this is incredible. Zantana could always still be a bit tense. Once that is gone, she is truly amazing. I started as the favorite and I can certainly feel the tension that creates.”

The 43-year old Van der Putten began her professional career riding for Rien van der Schaft.

“I started riding at the age of sixteen with Rien van der Schaft in Apeldoorn. I worked there for eleven years. After that, I rode for seven years with Hans Peter Minderhoud and Edward Gal, and learned a tremendous amount there as well. At RS2, owned by Sjaak and Saskia Lemmens, I was given every opportunity to reach the top. The fact that this is now succeeding with the horses we have is fantastic.”

“I’ve been riding Zantana for about three and a half years now. Not as long as my other horses. It took quite a while to get her to come to me. She is a mega hot mare. Over the years, we have really become a team in the ring. Now we are putting everything on Rotterdam and the World Championships. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m still standing here in a bit of disbelief when I see the points on the scoreboard.”

The Rise and The Come Back

For Dinja van Liere it was no fourth consecutive Dutch Champion's title but a nice silver medal instead on her rising star. With Hermes retired and her more confirmed Grand Prix routiniers Hartsuijker and Imposantos on a break from competition, Van Liere had to shift to fifth gear to prepare her younger stars for the big tour. The 9-year old Mauro (by Zonik x Negro) proved up for the task and with 75.522% in the Grand Prix and 82.875% in the Kur they settled for silver and a security for team selection for Aachen. Mauro is owned by Eugene Reesink and Eric Koele of Turfhorst stud.

“I am absolutely thrilled; Mauro performed his first Freestyle here at the National Championships," said Dinja. "For the first time, it couldn’t have gone better. He is doing incredibly well. This was only his third Grand Prix competition. He gives such a great feeling and it comes with so much ease. It gets better every time. It feels so simple with him and that is wonderful. At first I thought we would take it easy, but when I feel how he is growing in the work, I do think he can handle the World Championships this coming summer. The advantage is that Mauro already started in the small tour in Aachen last year. I have been riding him since he was young, so we know what to expect from each other.”

The surprise of the Nationals was the long-awaited come back of Dutch Olympian Marlies van Baalen with her 2023 team horse Habibi DVB, a 14-year old KWPN gelding by Don Schufro x Johnson. Their last CDI start was in Rotterdam in June 2025 after which the chestnut had to recover from an injury. The pair proved their form and posted 69.63% in the Grand Prix and climbed up to 79.145% in the freestyle to settle for bronze.

“Habibi was out for a long time with an injury after Rotterdam last year. We worked all winter with a whole team to get him fit again. We built him up very carefully. Today in the final, he was powerful as ever, and I could ride him full throttle. It was truly magical; I just got goosebumps. We were in good form today. Habibi is a phenomenal horse. I will hear from the national coach in due course whether he needs me. Now a short break, and then off to Rotterdam.”

Finishing just off the podium was Thamar Zweistra aboard her rising star Mr Magnum (by Expression x Valdez). The 9-year old is stepping into the shoes of Luxuriouzz, Thamar's Crozet team horse who is side-lined with an injury. Mr Magnum scored 70.565% and 78.10% for fourth place overall.

Results - 2026 Dutch Dressage Championships - Ermelo

Pony Riders (top 8 - complete)

1. Fabiënne Raijmakers - Wrong is right - 72.257 79.784 --- 152.041
2. Esmae Niessen - Ganymed W - 71.429 75.95 --- 147.379
3. Bo Leijten - Perfect Lightfeet- 69.857 74.475 --- 144.332
4. Neeltje Twint - Davida - 69.4 73.467 --- 142.867
5. Felyne Boschloo-Karsijns - Shakira - 69.514 72.9 --- 142.414
6. Michelle Verbij - King Stayerhof's Jango - 68.057 71.8 --- 139.857
7. Fay Van den Brink - N Constantino van de Bolkerhoeve - 68.143 70.867 --- 139.01
8. Isa Westendarp Knol - Dijkhof ‘s Donchello - 67.686 69.434 --- 137.12

Children

1. Neeltje Twint - Ein Champion - 75.342 74.287 --- 149.629
2. Amy Bax Pleun - EPJ - 70.175 74.195 --- 144.37
3. Liz Arends - Master - 73.367 69.986 --- 143.353
4. Eza Zuidgeest - Hilton-S - 74.692 67.523 --- 142.215
5. Yasmine Boer - Don Ricardo Vaheti - 72.184 69.352 --- 141.536
6. Beau Van leeuwen - Davidoff van Oeteren - 69.692 71.394 --- 141.086
7. Sandy Brammer Langeberg - Outlander dynasti - 72.817 67.162 --- 139.979
8. Lotte-Zsofie Malkus- Jeason - 72.575 64.986 --- 137.561
9. Tooske Twint - Black Magic T 68.892 67.185 --- 136.077
10. Maddy Pessel - O'jean H - 71.684 62.954 --- 134.638
11. Mira van Zanten - Prima Donna Assoluta - 70.792 58.699 --- 129.491

Junior Riders (top 8 - complete)

1. Annabell De Bock - Ostilio - 70.879 74.233 --- 145.112
2. Feline Niessen - Quinn - 69.364 74.234 --- 143.598
3. Mirthe Willig - Just Biantoes - 70.152 72.45 --- 142.602
4. Britt Kikkert- van der Linde - Jerenzo Texel - 68.879 72.592 --- 141.471
5. Renske Boekhoud - Lord Lexington - 67.788 72.425 --- 140.213
6. Sarah Willemsen - Goya-Odette B - 68.121 70.683 --- 138.804
7. Jayda Vermeer - kendrick- 66.97 70.1 --- 137.07
8. Noël Albers - James Pleasure - 67.0 68.617 --- 135.617

Young Riders (top 8 - complete)

1. Anniek Van Dulst - My First Choice Dutopia - 72.647 77.084 --- 149.731
2. Lara van Nek - Jatilinda - 71.912 76.467 --- 148.379
3. Esmee Boers - Montreux - 70.265 73.642 1 --- 43.907
4. Morgan Walraven - Benecia - 70.323 72.884 --- 143.207
5 Yasmin Westerink - Fashion in Black - 69.5 71.425 --- 140.925
6. Sofie van Rooij - Juan Tango B - 70.176 69.817 --- 139.993
7. Jessica Nesselaar - Kiekeboe Odette B - 250 70.588 65.4 --- 135.988
8. Lynne van Erp - Lafanory -66.853 68.992 --- 135.845

Under 25

1. Marten Luiten - Johnny - 73.436 79.66 --- 153.096
2. Tessa Kole - Hexagon’s Nourimanda - 70.461 76.675 --- 147.136
3. Lara van Nek - All at Once - 69.667 75.495 --- 145.162
4. Eline Anker - Hermes - 69.615 74.205 --- 143.82
5. Robin Heiden - Hollywood - 68.103 72.855 --- 140.958
6. Micky Schelstraete - Karim - 66.513 70.315 --- 136.828
7. Annika Van Looij - Imagine That - 63.436 67.595 --- 131.031

Senior Small Tour (top 9 - complete)

1. Diederik van Silfhout - New Orleans - 73.725 77.159 --- 150.884
2. Dana Van lierop - Next Levels Gouvernant - 71.52 76.517--- 148.037
3. Diana Van de Bovenkamp - Newton’s Law - 70.392 76.309 --- 146.701
4. Thalia Rockx - Naomyi de La Fazenda - 69.902 74.425 --- 144.327
5. Hans Peter Minderhoud - Nero - 69.755 74.2 --- 143.955
6. Gerdine maree - Dutch Dream - 69.51 74.167--- 143.677
7. Edith Chardon - Leranyke P - 69.853 73.259 --- 143.112
8. Carlijn Huberts - Mozes T. - 69.902 71.925 --- 141.827
9. Christel Heuseveldt - No secret SW - 69.657 71.65 --- 141.307

Senior Grand Prix

1. Marieke van der Putten - Zantana - 77.935 87.84 --- 165.775
2. Dinja Van Liere - Mauro - 75.522 82.875 --- 158.397
3. Marlies van Baalen - Habibi - 69.63 79.145 --- 148.775
4. Thamar zweistra - Mr Magnum - 70.565 78.1 --- 148.665
5. Robin Bernoski - Jamaica - 69.565 75.7 --- 145.265
6. Marie-José Calis - Limited Edition - 69.978 75.085 --- 145.063
7. Sophie Reef - Gideon KH - 69.369 74.73 --- 144.099
8. Lynne Maas - Electra 6 - 9.326 73.285 --- 142.611
9. Rowena Weggelaar - Don Quichot - 68.043 74.38 --- 142.423
10. Dominique Filion - The Boss - 69.543 72.215 --- 141.758
11. Kim Noordijk - Joep - 68.587 72.325 --- 140.912
12. Marsja Dijkman - Beaujolais - 69.435 67.735 --- 137.17
13. Marieke van der Putten - Torveslettens Titanium - 72.652 0.0 --- 72.652
14. Marieke van der Putten - Kuvasz - 72.609 0.0 --- 72.609
15. Dinja Van Liere - McLaren OLD - 70.478 0.0 --- 70.478
16. Lynne Maas - Lolly-pop M - 69.478 0.0 --- 69.478
17. Thamar zweistra - Kingsdale - 68.826 0.0 --- 68.826
18. Thalia Rock - x Golden Dancer de La Fazenda - 68.021 0.0 --- 68.021
19. Hans Peter Minderhoud - Mister U.S. - 67.652 0.0 --- 67.652
20. Dinja Van Liere - Im special - 67.565 0.0 --- 67.565
21. Hans Peter Minderhoud - My Toto - 67.217 0.0 --- 67.217
22. Yessin Rahmouni - Kind of magic - 66.978 0.0 --- 66.978