The Dutch Dressage team will head to the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen immersed in a rebuilding process. Following the retirement or departure of some of the partnerships that defined an era, the national coach, Patrick van der Meer, ensures that the work carried out over the last two years is beginning to yield results and approaches the major championship of the year with optimism, although without losing sight of the fact that the true objective lies in the future.
Van der Meer, who took up the role in 2024 and was part of the Dutch team that won Olympic bronze in London 2012 and European gold in Aachen 2015, explains that his priority has been to broaden the base of rider-horse combinations capable of competing at the highest level. His intention has been to develop new talent, keep horses with Grand Prix potential in the country and increase the team's depth.
The trainer acknowledges that Dutch Dressage has gone through a transitional phase following the Paris Olympic Games and the 2025 European Championship in Crozet. The sale of major horses, the retirement of several key figures and changes in various structures made it necessary to start a new phase. However, he considers that this process is part of the natural evolution of the sport and highlights the role of owners who are committed to keeping their horses within the national team.
Another of the pillars of her project has been to promote a more harmonious style of riding. Van der Meer asserts that judges and stewards have passed on positive comments regarding the evolution of the riding style of the Dutch combinations and considers that this philosophy is beginning to be reflected in both the training and the presentation of the horses in competition.
The selector also focuses on talent identification and retention. To this end, he works closely with the N.O.P. and N.O.P.T. programmes, initiatives designed to identify young horses with international potential and prevent them from leaving the country before reaching Grand Prix level. The selection trials organised by these programmes make it possible to monitor the progress of new combinations and spot future options for the national team.
Among the names exemplifying that new generation are Marieke van der Putten with Zantana RS2 OLD NOP, Dinja van Liere with Mauro Turfhrost NOPT, Thamar Zweistra with Hexagons Mr Magnum NOPT and Rowena Weggelaar with Don Quichot, the four combinations that will represent the Netherlands in Aachen.
Van der Meer highlights in particular the development of Zantana RS2, which has gained consistency compared to the previous European Championships, and Dinja van Liere's rapid return after starting a new sporting chapter with Mauro Turfhorst. Even so, he avoids placing pressure on horses that are still continuing to gain experience at the highest level and considers that for some this World Championship may come before they reach full sporting maturity.
Rather than focusing exclusively on the results from Aachen, the national coach is already looking ahead to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. He believes that several young riders coming up from the U25 category are making the step up to the highest level and trusts that this new generation will enable Dutch Dressage to once again contend for medals at future major championships.
