Lex van Drooge and Gee van Enst came up with the idea of ​​the Roeivierkamp together and implemented it.

The Idea

1972, December. An icy wind sweeps through the vast fields of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. On creaking city bikes, Nereus coaches Lex van Drooge and Gee van Enst make their way toward Uithoorn. Behind them, a first year eight struggles along the cold Amstel, rowing irregularly and visibly struggling to keep up with their coaches’ pace. There, amidst the dimly lit meadows, an idea awakens that would forever change the history of Dutch rowing: the Roeivierkamp.

Monotonous winters

During these dark winter months, the rowing competition falls eerily silent. For rowers and coaches, this period – at the time nearly half a year – was a monotonous sequence of training sessions, often in harsh weather conditions, with no prospect of competition. According to Lex van Drooge and Gee van Enst, this was a missed opportunity. How could this sport be enriched with more challenge and enjoyment during this long, dull winter period? During their coaching sessions en route to Uithoorn, they spoke openly about a possible new competition. The existing options, such as the Head of the River Amstel, were not ideal in their eyes. There were hardly any races before the regatta season, and while the Head was prestigious, it was a one-dimensional race over a long distance, lacking preliminary rounds or a good viewing experience for spectators. Something new was needed – something that would bring more a more dynamic approach and increased excitement to Dutch rowing.

Inspiration

Both coaches were inspired by the Henley Royal Regatta, where they had previously witnessed a unique blend of sport and spectacle with great enthusiasm. In Henley-on-Thames, spectators attended in large numbers. The combination of a lively grandstand, a vibrant atmosphere, and races with clear starts and finishes seemed like a winning formula. Something similar was missing in the Netherlands, apart from the Varsity. Additionally, Gee van Enst, who was not only a rower but also a passionate ice skater, had been contemplating variations in race distances for some time. In ice skating, all-around tournaments featured races over four distances (500, 1500, 5000, and 10,000 meters), with a point system that combined the results. Why not adopt a similar approach in rowing? Since the speed of a rowing eight is roughly half that of an ice skater, Van Enst decided the distances should be halved. This gave rise to the concept of the Roeivierkamp: a competition over multiple distances, testing both endurance and speed.

The birth of the H4K

Every training, their idea started to shape and develop further. Van Drooge en Van Enst combined their inspirations to a unique event. A regatta with multiple distances, a vibrant atmosphere, a clear start and finish, as well as space for spectators to enjoy the sport. The foundation for the Heineken Roeivierkamp was there. What began as a simple idea during cold coaching sessions through the meadows grew into an iconic event that would remain a highlight on the Dutch rowing calendar for decades. The competition is for young and old, elite athletes and amateurs, rowers and non-rowers alike. Everyone is truly welcome here!

A new tradition is born

Coming up with the concept was one thing, but bringing this regatta to life proved more of a challenge. While Nereus quickly supported the plan due to the benefits for the club, the more conservative Rowing Federation posed a greater obstacle. With a clever approach, Lex van Drooge and Gee van Enst eventually secured permission, on the condition that the race would be by invitation only. They solved this easily by inviting all clubs. A team of over 35 Nereus members took on the organisation. The goal was clear: the race needed to be spectacular for spectators and efficiently run without unnecessary interruptions. The regatta with four distances brought variety, and an important innovation was reversing the starting order: the fastest crews started last. This made the race more exciting and dynamic. With this, the foundation was laid for a successful and unique event; the Heineken Roeivierkamp.