June 20, 2025 
The Dutch make a fashion statement every time they step in the ring to represent their nation, but in Rotterdam it was a decree. Donning their orange coats, the Dutch clinched the win in the Longines League of Nations on home turf, in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Riders Maikel van der Vleuten, Harrie Smolders, Kim Emmen, and Willem Greve conquered, coming from behind and finishing on a total of 10 faults.
The home nation started the week strong, with the dressage team winning the Nations Cup on Thursday, but all four team members, plus chef d’equipe Wout-Jan van der Schans, knew this win was going to be a hard-fought one considering how many riders brought forth their top mounts.
van der Vleuten and his star athlete Beauville Z N.O.P. put in two stellar double-clear rounds, which proved game changing for his team. The gelding’s 60% clear rate at 1.60m came in clutch, and the horse delivered as he often does (Jumpr stats).
“You know the people watching are really standing behind us,” van der Vleuten remarked of the home crowd. “As a rider of course we really would like to show them the right results and bring them what they want. My job as a first rider is to give a good start and good motivation for the team and riders who are coming. It was a tough class. The horses had to work for it today. It was hard to jump clear but we all four kept on fighting and that gave us the win.”
Despite the unstoppable performance in Rotterdam (and two individual Olympic medals on his record), Beauville is actually returning to top form after a tough stretch, beginning with an unexpected blip at FEI World Cup Finals.
“He showed today his fantastic mentality,” van der Vleuten continued of Beauville, who is now 15 and very much in his prime. “We work very well as a team. After the World Cup Final he had a bit of a tough time; he was not in the shape he used to be, but we figured that out and he’s on the right way again. That gave me a very good feeling.”
That good feeling just kept on coming as the team’s riders returned to the ring for the second round. Emmen and Imagine, another pair that put forth a superb Olympic performance in Paris, delivered a crucial clear in round two, as the team inched closer to unseating the French, the top performers in round one.
“I’m feeling very delighted,” Emmen shared. “Imagine jumped two super rounds. In the second round I gave a little bit more and it paid off. Today is my first win in front of the home crowd. They are so supportive and it’s a really special feeling.”
Smolders and Monaco, who as a pair have won two Nations Cups in Rotterdam, put the team’s chances of victory at risk, adding one rail and one time fault to the overall Dutch score. With Kevin Staut jumping the final round with five faults in hand, they thought the day was over. Smolders felt differently.
“With three riders in the second round it’s not over yet until the last one jumps the last fence,” the former world number one remarked. “When I had one down I kept fighting in the last line to have the best possible result and you see what can happen.”
Status and Visconti du Talman brought down two rails, and the win was handed to the home nation.
Smolders and Monaco have much to celebrate of late, fresh off their second five-star grand prix victory together. But a team win always feels more special to these riders.
“Monaco is a very consistent horse,” he said of the 16-year-old gelding, who jumps clear 52% of the time at this height (Jumpr stats). “He has a lot of experience. Today was a very tough class; we saw not many double clears. There’s nothing nicer than a home win. It’s beautiful and everybody cheering was great.”
Greve thought he had the easiest job. With the unique Longines League of Nations format, all four riders jumped round one, but only three returned, and all three counted. Greve and Grandorado TN N.O.P. were the discard score in round one, cheering from the sidelines in round two.
“I’m very proud to be part of this team,” Greve shared. “Today my first round wasn’t the way I hoped. I’m very proud of my colleagues. I’ve never won so easily, to be honest. It’s always special to win and the orange jacket is something special.”
With the Netherlands taking the win at Leg 3, France were the runners up, and Great Britain took home third. The fourth leg, and last one before the Final, will head to French territory in St. Tropez in September. The Final will be held in Barcelona in October, where the top eight teams will fight for the overall title.
