Indoor Friesland 2025: Broader, more spectacular, and packed with excitement. Sports director Yvonne van Bergen explains.

Indoor Friesland is buzzing. This is especially true thanks to sports director Yvonne van Bergen. The fourth edition after our competition's comeback is just around the corner, and of course, we spoke with her in the lead-up to two long weekends of equestrian sports and fun at the WTC Expo in Leeuwarden. Bounced with enthusiasm, stumbling over her own words, and with a smile from ear to ear, she talked about "her" Indoor Friesland. About the program, about the participants, about the show jumping weekend, about the dressage weekend, about new things, about the ambassadors. A look ahead to Indoor Friesland 2025.

Who doesn't know her, the North Limburg all-rounder of equestrian sports? For years, she's been an indispensable part of the Dutch equestrian scene. Many weekends a year, she's out and about for riders and horses. Sports management, jury member, sports director—Yvonne does it all. With a great deal of joy, and it shows. No effort is too much for her, and she's adored everywhere. From Maastricht to Leeuwarden, from Aachen to Ermelo, but also in Deurne, Eindhoven, Kessel, and 's-Hertogenbosch, she can be found. She holds her own everywhere, her characteristic enthusiasm and insight into equestrian sports are evident, and no effort is too much for her. This is also the case in Leeuwarden, and secretly, we can see that a beautiful red pumping station has grown in her heart.

Togetherness

Yvonne: “Indoor Friesland is growing, and I'm really looking forward to the fourth edition. The hashtag #zinindoorfriesland is doing really well, and this competition gives me a very positive and energetic feeling. It's become a truly diverse event. From ordinary people to top riders, everyone is welcome. I'm sad every year when it's over. We live in difficult times, and I dare say that Indoor Friesland puts a smile on the faces of everyone involved. It also creates so many friendships and fosters a sense of community in the Frisian capital. "I" doesn't count; we strive for a sense of community. Indoor Friesland is an international event, but I believe it's important to involve the entire Northern Netherlands in the program. An example of this is our highly successful Horses2fly competition. Starting spots aren't for sale; you have to earn them, and everyone has an equal chance. I always have ideas to make it even more fun and better; my head explodes when I think about those two weekends a year at the WTC Expo. In other places where I work, Something often doesn't fit into the program because the events are only a few days long. In Leeuwarden, I can really express my ideas. I used to look forward to the competition, and now I do again; it still feels like coming home."

Marten Luiten, Dinja van Liere and Monique Peutz judge the Epplejeck Viertallen Cup

When people think of Indoor Friesland, they often think of Frisian horses and show jumping, but there's so much more. Dressage truly deserves a platform and has grown in recent years. This year, we have a fantastic field of participants, which I'm very proud of. Unfortunately, I can offer fewer participants a starting place in this discipline because a dressage test simply takes much longer than a jumping round. But we've found a solution for this too. Thanks to Epplejeck, a four-team class is now on the program, with twelve teams allowed to participate. Also very nice: the jury for the final class will consist of our dressage ambassadors Marten Luiten, Dinja van Liere, and international judge Monique Peutz. There's also an extra prize for this class: the Happy Horse/Happy Athlete award, for the four-team that exudes the most joy. More about the dressage program: we have one- and three-star classes, the Team Challenge is back, and of course, all youth classes will be included in the program. After all, the youth are the future. It's great fun! That the freestyle is also on the program for all classes. Dutch participants in the international dressage program? Marieke van der Putten, Dinja van Liere, Diederik van Silfhout, Marten Luiten, Hans Peter Minderhoud, and Kirsten Beckers are a few names that come to mind.

Night of the stallions and Breeders' Café

I was still missing a bit of breeding in our program, and we've found a solution for that. We've managed to free up some space on Saturday during dressage week. The Night of the Stallions and the Breeder's Café are on the program. The first will feature both show jumping and dressage stallions, as well as harness stallions of all breeds, performing their specialties. We'll start with Friesian horses, the KFPS, and then the KWPN, NRPS, Pintos, and Welsh ponies will appear in the arena. It promises to be a dynamic and eye-opening show. A fun evening for the whole family, horse lovers, and breeding enthusiasts. On Saturday afternoon, the Breeder's Café will be held for two hours in the media square. From foals to stallions, everything will be covered, and everyone is welcome. Stay tuned to our social media for more information about this special part of our program.

New roof on the WTC Expo hall

The show jumping program has been revamped this year, making it even more attractive for top-level athletes. For example, all ranking tests now include a jump-off, which also provides the first qualifier for the Grand Prix, which takes place on Thursday evening. Saturday afternoon features a fantastic Winning Round class, and I recommend everyone include it in their visit to Indoor Friesland. We also have a field of show jumping competitors to be proud of. The entire top three of the 2025 Dutch Show Jumping Championships will be in attendance. I'd like to mention the reigning champion and defending champion of the 2024 SLTN Grand Prix, Willem Greve, Jur Vrieling, Harrie Smolders, Maikel van der Vleuten, Jeroen Dubbeldam, and local favorites Marriët Smit-Hoekstra and Pim Mulder. Regarding Jeroen Dubbeldam, he's back under the saddle on his winning grey Gisborne VDL, with which he won the Grand Prix of Indoor Friesland and a qualifier two years ago, and he'll be competing at our show! I was jumping for joy. I was overjoyed when I heard that. Speaking of bouncing, I was also thrilled when I recently watched the World Championships for Young Show Jumping Horses in Lanaken via the livestream. "Our" Marriët won the Sires of the World class. She did so fantastically, and I was so proud that her biggest dream is to win the SLTN Grand Prix of Indoor Friesland. If that happens, I think WTC Expo will have to put a new roof on the hall.

Allspan Pony Cup

"Before the show jumping weekend, I'd also like to mention the Indoor Friesland Allspan Pony Cup. It's scheduled for Thursday and is truly special. I believe young riders shouldn't be left out of international competitions. After all, they are our future. Unfortunately, we can't accommodate open entries; there's no room for them in the program, so we've created the Allspan Pony Cup with qualifying competitions.

In the lead-up to last year's finals, I asked a few children about their idols. To my surprise, I heard completely different names than I expected; names of truly good riders were missing. I believe we should turn our top riders into heroes. There wasn't room for a separate section dedicated to these riders, so I decided to combine them. Top riders became coaches, and for this year's edition, they are Maikel van der Vleuten, Jeroen Dubbeldam, Jur Vrieling, Willem Greve, and Marriët Smit-Hoekstra. The latter is new; I really wanted to include a woman and a local hero. The great thing is that the coaches are just as enthusiastic as the children. Even better, before the 1.45m class on Thursday afternoon, the teams will be announced and, just like at a Nations Cup, there will be a team presentation in the arena. Regarding the team concept, I deliberately chose that. I don't just want an individual competition, but also teamwork. All in all, this section has become quite an organization and I am not doing this alone, I would very much like to mention Hildou Bootsma who plays a major role in this whole thing.”

What else is there

That's it for the dressage and jumping program, because there's much more to Indoor Friesland. Every day, there will be a performance in the main arena by The Horse Men, a humorous segment by three men from France that you shouldn't miss. I started out as a groom (horse caretaker), and that time is still my guiding principle. That's why I, together with Dinette Neuteboom, created the groom prize two years ago, and it's returning again this year. Our event strives to organize a program that's as horse-friendly as possible, where both horse and groom can find some much-needed rest. During both the dressage and jumping weekends, mystery guests will assess the grooms several times on various elements, and the top three will receive a very attractive prize package. This is made possible by Indoor Friesland, but also by various sponsors. Of course, we can't forget our Frisian evening during the jumping weekend, an annual highlight for the many enthusiasts of the proud Frisian horse, where harness horses are also featured. Highlights this year will again include the Frisian Stallion Championship and the Prize of the Be the best. Harness horse enthusiasts will be in their element at the Northern Harness Horse Championship. I won't reveal who yet, but I will tell you that, just like last year, this evening will begin with an honorable sleigh ride. The youngsters won't be forgotten this evening either; they'll be competing in their own Young Riders class. From approximately 7:30 PM to around 11:00 PM, it will be another wonderful, emotional evening in which the sense of community will once again play a significant role. Finally, I'd like to mention three of our wonderful ambassadors: Dinja van Liere, Marten Luiten, and Jeroen Dubbeldam. They will participate in the sports program, but also fulfill various other enjoyable roles and proudly and enthusiastically represent our beautiful competition wherever they can.

Indoor Friesland is buzzing

Yvonne lets out a deep sigh, almost a blissful sigh. "Yes, I'm excited and could talk for hours. Indoor Friesland is so beautiful, so wonderful, so welcoming. Indoor Friesland is buzzing. We want to offer every aspect of equestrian sports for all levels and the whole family. Come to Leeuwarden, come experience it!"

Photos: Digishots

Text: Marjan de Wildt for Indoor Friesland