When was the last time you heard about a boat club with royal connections? De Hoop, or the Royal Amsterdam Boat Club ‘De Hoop’, isn’t just any boat club. It’s one of the oldest in the Netherlands. Founded on May 26, 1848, De Hoop has a rich history intertwined with Amsterdam’s maritime past.
Imagine a group of young men. They were sons of merchants, shipbuilders and industrialists. They took a trip to Diemen and discovered the joy of rowing together. Inspired by the rowing students of Oxford and Cambridge in England, they decided to form a club. They named it De Hoop.
In those early days, England was a global leader. The founders found inspiration in its rowing tradition. Soon, many friends and acquaintances joined De Hoop. The club quickly entered competitions. In August 1848, they participated in races in Rotterdam. They impressively secured first prize.
The first boats of De Hoop were stored at the corner of Sarphatistraat and the Amstel. This was opposite the future location of the Amstel Hotel built in 1867. The club had four different locations near the Sarphatibrug over the Amstel until 1952. The current boathouse was built in 1952. It has been renovated several times since then.
De Hoop expanded its scope in 1855. It merged with the Amsterdamsche Kotter Vereeniging. This transformed it from a rowing club into a rowing and sailing club. The merger brought older members. They viewed rowing and sailing as a way to boost boat construction. They aimed to teach crafts to working-class boys. These members often financed boats and crews for competitions.
The activities of De Hoop attracted royal attention. In 1852, King Willem III became the club’s patron. Prince Hendrik, his brother, frequently attended De Hoop’s events and races. He would sail on yachts owned by wealthy club members. Since 1908, the club has been allowed to call itself Koninklijk meaning Royal. The connection with the Royal House continues. In 1998, Queen Beatrix visited De Hoop’s fleet review. This celebrated the club’s 150th anniversary.
The club evolved over the 19th century. Professional rowing faded. De Hoop became an amateur sports club. A lively social scene developed alongside rowing. Sailing remained popular with varying degrees of success. In 1915, De Hoop allowed women to row. They gained voting rights in 1946. A year later, the first female board member joined. Many women joined. By 1920, De Hoop had a successful women’s team in style rowing.
De Hoop started admitting youth members in the 1930s. They have been quite successful in competitions. From the late 1960s, the club experienced significant growth. Membership increased from around 800 to about 1000. This was due to the rise of veteran rowing. This included competitive rowing for people over 27. In 1967, De Hoop organized the first major international veterans regatta. It became a favored club. Former competitive rowers found jobs in Amsterdam. They continued to enjoy competitive rowing as veterans.
De Hoop has produced several international top rowers. Constant E. Pieterse won gold and bronze at the European Championships between 1921 and 1930. W. Jens and A. Dekker won bronze in the coxless pair at the 1933 European Championship. The Oranje boat hangs from the society’s ceiling. It was bought in 1934 for Jens and Dekker to use at Henley, England. But they found the boat too heavy and disliked rowing in it. The women’s eight from De Hoop became Dutch champions in 1950. They also dominated internationally. Frans Göbel was a world champion in the lightweight single sculls in 1989 and 1990. Cindy Rip won a bronze medal in the lightweight double sculls at the 1993 World Championships.
Today, De Hoop has about 1000 members. It has over 30 rowing crews. They range in experience and age. De Hoop organizes three to four major rowing events each year. It has an enthusiastic group of sailors. The club offers an excellent social network. Members are encouraged to participate. The facilities and boathouse were fully renovated in 2009. De Hoop is located centrally in Amsterdam with excellent public transport. It also has restaurant facilities. De Hoop is a popular choice for expat rowers and sailors.