Tag Archive for: Netherlands

Netherlands’ First Recycled Synthetic Turf Pitch Installed

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Netherlands’ First Recycled Synthetic Turf Pitch Installed: A landmark synthetic turf project in The Netherlands has equipped amateur football club FC Weesp with a high-quality playing surface manufactured from post-consumer recycling.

The pilot project was commissioned by municipality Gemeente Amsterdam with the backing of the EU, with the aim of creating a professional-standard durable football pitch, while also contributing towards the EU sustainable development goal of achieving 50% recyclability of plastic waste by 2030. After a competitive tender process, Edel Grass BV was appointed as the primary contractor and Van de Wetering Projects as the installer.

Netherlands’ First Recycled Synthetic Turf Pitch Installed

Netherlands’ First Recycled Synthetic Turf Pitch Installed

Using cork granulate performance infill, recycled sand stabilising infill, and recycled components from old pitches in the turf yarns, backing coating, and shockpads; the field is the first of its kind installed in The Netherlands, representing a major milestone in circularity.

Data from independent life-cycle assessments shows that the system achieves a 43.4% reduction in carbon emissions per metre squared compared to a traditional 3G pitch.

Crucially, the pitch satisfies all KNVB performance standards for key factors such as ball roll, shock absorption, and durability, giving assurances for player safety and pitch quality. As a result, the pitch at Sportpark Papelaan is now eligible for competitive play in the 5e Klasse D, where FC Weesp’s first team currently plies its trade, as well as for local community use and training across the club’s 91 teams spanning a variety of age groups and abilities.

Stefan Diderich, Director General/CEO of EMEA Synthetic Turf Council (ESTC), said: “A synthetic turf pitch is the ideal solution for a club of FC Weesp’s size, offering a durable, high-quality playing surface that can meet KNVB standards without the maintenance costs associated with a natural grass pitch, demonstrating that sustainability, affordability, and performance can all work in tandem.

“This proof-of-concept project is just one of many ways that football clubs and local authorities can offer a high-quality playing surface that can sustain long-term intensive usage, while also working towards a more circular economy.”

Find out more at www.estc.info

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DSV UK Hosts Insightful Netherlands Trip

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DSV UK Hosts Insightful Netherlands Trip: DSV UK recently organised a trip for distributors and end users to the company’s Netherlands division, offering attendees an in-depth look into the world of grass breeding.

Hamish Crichton, from DSV UK, led the trip, which aimed to showcase the scale, history, and expertise of DSV.

The Netherlands trip was designed to provide a comprehensive view of DSV’s operations, including a tour of their state-of-the-art facilities. Hamish explained the purpose behind the visit: “We got everyone together – both distributors and their customers – to show them what DSV is all about. From our long-standing pedigree to the level of investment in new facilities and products, the tour provided valuable insights into our capabilities.”

One of the highlights of the trip was viewing turf trials, where visitors could see the cultivars in their purest form. “It was great for the attendees to see the cultivars, not just in mixtures, but in isolation, which really helps to showcase the quality,” Hamish said. He added that the group were impressed by the breeding process, which can take up to sixteen years for a single variety to be developed and approved.

Holger Lurmann, Product Manager of Turf Grasses, provided an expert perspective on the breeding process during the visit. He explained the various stages involved in producing a single variety of grass and how these varieties are composed into specialised mixtures.

“I gave an introduction into our breeding efforts and what is required to get the final product,” Holger said. “We also discussed what goes into creating a mixture that works for the customer’s specific needs, whether it’s for sports or ornamental purposes. The group visited our trial plots, which are part of the official trial system here in the Netherlands.”

These trials ensure that only the highest-quality turf varieties make it to market, providing end users with confidence in the products they purchase.

Beyond the technical insights, the trip was also an opportunity to strengthen relationships with distributors and customers. As Hamish emphasised, “Days like this help create more awareness of the DSV brand and build stronger connections with those who use and sell our products.”

The feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many finding the trip highly beneficial. “The feedback has been great, and everyone has taken something valuable from it,” Hamish said. “It’s been a great opportunity to not only showcase what we do but also to build a deeper understanding of our products among those who use them.”

While DSV has long been recognised as a leader in grass breeding across Europe, the trip also helped to further cement DSV’s reputation in the UK. “DSV is still a relatively new name to the UK market, and we wanted to show people the scale of the business and the quality of the cultivars we produce. Now, the industry is realising that DSV has been around for decades, producing first-class grass seed mixtures,” Hamish said.

Take advantage of these exclusive discounts, contact your local DSV distributor today.

Please visit www.dsv-uk.co.uk for more information.

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Milestone for golf in the Netherlands

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Milestone for golf in the Netherlands: At the Sportive Connect conference on Thursday 23 January in Amsterdam, the Dutch sports sector made an important step in its contribution to the climate agreement by signing the Sustainable Sports Roadmap.

The conference also recognised a milestone in the field of sustainable sport – one hundred golf clubs in the Netherlands have achieved the GEO Certified® distinction. One of the signatories on this agreement is Netherlands Golf Federation Director, Jeroen Stevens.

Milestone for golf in the Netherlands

Golfclub Meerssen in the spotlight

Gerard Dielessen, General Director of the Dutch Olympic Committee and Dutch Sport (NOC * NSF), pointed out that Dutch Golf placed sustainability high on its agenda a long time ago and the sport has already achieved a significant amount as a leader in the field.

Dutch golf’s achievement was celebrated at the congress with the presentation of the GEO Certification to the one hundredth club, Golfclub Meerssen.

Commenting on the announcement, Jonathan Smith, Executive Director, GEO Foundation said: “GEO Foundation is proud to support sustainable golf in the Netherlands in its strategy and delivery of credible, measurable results. The NGF’s vision in creating the future they wanted for the sport is an important example of voluntary leadership.”

“Sustainability because we want to”

In one of the information sessions at the congress, NGF director Jeroen Stevens elaborated on the sustainability of golf through OnCourse Netherlands, the program that golf clubs use on their way to become GEO Certified. Stevens highlighted the shift in golf from “sustainability because we have to” to “sustainability because we want to”. He pointed out that this is also expected by society: research shows that the need for sustainable thinking and doing increases with each generation.

Stevens also underlined the many benefits and opportunities that sustainable management offers. “In 2009, as a volunteer on the golf club’s course committee, I was faced with sustainability for the first time and I have since learned that sustainable management provides a better golf course at lower costs,” he said.

Don’t wait until everyone is ready

Stevens believes that all sports would benefit from the OnCourse Netherlands/GEO programme used by golf. “GEO is about awareness of sustainability and measurement. You have to measure to know what you are doing. GEO is also about community, because that is also sustainability. And I recommend that you just start making your sport more sustainable and not wait until everyone is ready,” he said.

The Netherlands now has more GEO Certified® golf facilities than any other country in the world and has plans for even more to achieve golf’s sustainability distinction in the coming years, benefitting the clubs individually and the sport collectively.

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