The Dutch could also be world champions at biking, hockey and velocity skating, however they’ve acquired some fairly odd sports activities all of their very own. Here’s a listing of our favourites.
Lesson 56: Six unusual sports activities
Paalzitten
It’s what it says – pole sitting. Lots of people, every sitting on his or her particular person pole. The one that stays on the longest wins. The poles are erected in water so the particular person falling off doesn’t get harm. It’s presumed that pole sitting originated in Friesland the place the Frisians tried to stave off the boredom of lengthy winters by inventing sports activities to do with poles, like fierljeppen and pole sitting.
The game turned almost extinct presumably as a result of sitting on high of a pole didn’t stave off boredom. It has now made a come-back as a vacationer attraction however just isn’t a spectator sport.
Korfbal
Two groups of eight making an attempt to get a ball into the opponent’s korf or basket. The sport was invented by a Dutch main faculty instructor in 1902 and stays one of many only a few combined gender sports activities – with 4 males and 4 ladies per group.
The korfbal world championship is held each 4 years. The Dutch nationwide group have constantly received the title for the reason that championship was established in 1978, solely dropping to Belgium in 1991. It’s because Korfball is just severely performed within the Netherlands and Belgium – plus just a few different locations.
Klootschieten
It’s throwing a leaded ball so far as it can go. Two groups need to make their manner throughout a area or a paved space within the shortest variety of throws attainable. Klootschieten is standard in Overijssel, Drenthe and a part of Gelderland and elicits infantile sniggers within the remaining provinces as a result of ‘kloot’ (the leaded ball) additionally means ‘testicle’.
Fierljeppen (referred to as ‘bongelwuppen’ in Groningen)
Fierljeppen is Frisian for vaulting over a ditch utilizing a protracted pole and individuals who stay in waterlogged provinces are excellent at it. Opposite to pole sitting contestants, vaulters are prone to find yourself within the water way more incessantly and consequently are way more enjoyable to look at.
Skûtsjesilen
One other Frisian speciality. It’s a crusing competitors utilizing skûtsjes, or conventional Frisian crusing boats previously used to hold freight.
The official competitors solely permits entry of skippers from crusing households whose boats symbolize a sure city or village which prompted those that acquired their palms on a skûtsje any previous easy methods to organise their very own championships. It is a good factor as a result of it means that you can see extra of those lovely boats in motion.
Kaatsen
This type of handball dates from the Center Ages. Once more it’s the Frisians who performed it most and it stays their primary sport. It’s associated to different sports activities, like fives or American handball, through which the naked hand is utilized in lieu of a racquet. This nonetheless holds true for the one that serves the ball; the opposite gamers are allowed to put on a leather-based glove.
The sport is performed with two groups and scored in an identical approach to tennis. Kaatsen just isn’t distinctive to the Netherlands: some type of it this sport is being performed in over 50 international locations and areas.
