The Dutch Masters: Frank Kemperman hands over sport directorship to Jeroen Dubbeldam

Over the past 22 years The Dutch Masters has grown into a world-class competition with Frank Kemperman as sport director. However, this era is coming to an end; none other than former Olympic champion Jeroen Dubbeldam will take over this task from edition 2025 onward. Frank Kemperman is not saying goodbye completely, he will remain closely involved as an advisor in the coming period.

"Frank has been of enormous value to the event. His focus on top-class sport and quality has contributed to its growth into one of the finest equestrian events in the world," said show director Marcel Hunze. We are grateful and delighted that he will remain connected as an advisor for the foreseeable future."

Once was good
A year and a half ago, Frank Kemperman said goodbye to CHIO Aachen as sport director and now to The Dutch Masters. "That's how it goes, you get a day older. Next year I'll be 70, although I can't quite imagine that yet, but at some point it's time to pass the torch to the next generation. Once was good." Saying goodbye to equestrian sport altogether, Frank Kemperman is not saying goodbye. "I will remain closely involved in the coming period as an advisor and where I can I will support Jeroen. I know Jeroen very well and in consultation with me, Jeroen has been asked to take over this role with the aim that the quality of The Dutch Masters remains at least the same, but we actually always strive for better."

Further development of The Dutch Masters
"Gerrit Jan Swinkels brought me in in the early days asking if I wanted to professionalise the sport. I took that up and that's how we continued to develop and were allowed to join the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping in 2018. The Dutch Masters has developed into a quality event, without losing the basics. This show is really 'top of the bill' for the top riders, but I'm sure the national riders participating this week already can't sleep from the excitement as well," Frank Kemperman adds.

Huge honour
Jeroen Dubbeldam is hugely looking forward to his new position. "I am not just taking over from anyone," Jeroen Dubbeldam laughs. "Frank Kemperman is perhaps the Olympic champion when it comes to organising equestrian events. I feel enormously honoured to take over this task from him and I am well aware that the bar is high and I am very much looking forward to that," Jeroen Dubbeldam responds.

Nice team
"Yes I was surprised though, I didn't see this one coming. I gave it a lot of thought, because if I'm going to do this I also want to be fully behind it. There is a professional organisation and a fantastic board with Anky van Grunsven as chairman. We have always had a good relationship, our careers ran together.  In addition, Yvonne van Bergen, who has been in charge of the sports secretariat for many years, and Frank's son Joris will also have a bigger role. So I think we have a nice team together in that." Frank Kemperman fully agrees. "The team we have is fantastic and I am grateful to that team."