The Netherlands:

They hardly played a role in the Dutch national team until June. Then started as Rookies in the Pro League. And then the surprises were par excellence in the national coach Raoul Ehren’s European Championship selection. Their dream summer ended With a gold medal at the European Championship. Orange newcomers and Roomies Pam van der Laan (21 years old, 14 internationals) and Danique van der Verdonk (24 years old, 11 internationals) recently looked at their eyes.

Sunday afternoon, around seven. Van der Laan and Van der Verdonk stand by boarding the European Championship field in Mönchengladbach. Fifteen minutes earlier they received the biggest prize in their still short career. The brand new gold medals are hanging around their necks. They look at them again surprised, in the stadium that is still full of rattles. “It is incredible how this has become,” says Van der Laan surprised, “we both went through about the same route. It went super fast, with both of us. After the play -offs we were called by Raoul. Playing the pro competition was already bizarre. And then you can also stand here and leave as the winners of an EC. That all happened in a few weeks. So damn thick.

Van der Veerdonk nods next to her. “A world is open to us. During your first training session you think: Just test how this will be like“Says the defender who has been in top hockey with Den Bosch for years. She played her first international in June. ‘Apart from the girls from my own club, you end up in a new team. With a totally different dynamic, in which I had to find my place. It took some getting used to. The training sessions and competitions are more difficult, proud and more difficult. But there was not much time. Because we actually had to be there right away. ‘

‘The Thalys of Pinoké’

Van der Laan was the only Pinoké player in the selection of the national team. Three years ago she played twice for the Dutch national team, which then played Veldhockey with an incidental team in India, in the Pro League. Her international counter also started running again in the summer. ‘I knew a few girls of those matches against India. Unlike that I had never played with anyone. ‘
Van der Veerdonk: ‘You knew me, Didn’t You?
Van der Laan: ‘Oh yes, I trained with your team a few times. But that was the day, I think. With those girls I hardly knew a few weeks ago, I am celebrating now. Jump with a gold medal. Then it no longer matters how long you play together. ‘

They were ‘normal’ main class players. Studying, had booked holidays for the summer summer without hockey. But for the past two months they have been full -time top athletes, suddenly also part of the best field hockey team in the world. During this interview they had to do their best to drown out the rabid orange fans.

“That was also completely new to us, that attention. Screaming about our team. You have so many girls and boys who are suddenly fans of you. Then I think: I’m just pam, I’m just playing in Pinoké. Ten years ago I was so screaming there myself. “She even had her personal supporters with her in the final. A group of teammates had traveled to Germany with a sign and called her “the Thalys of Pinoké.” They think I am an express train. Super cool that they were there.

Van der Veerdonk, Obviously Wearing Her White Hair Tie. Photo: Willem Vernes

Yibbi lookalike and an interview in De Telegraaf

Van der Verdonk: ‘I also had to get used to the sound. I tried to call people in the final, but I couldn’t come up. So much sound was made. Especially when I was sitting on the couch: oh my god, where did I bring myself? ‘Van der Laan:’ After that I felt 2-1 the tension. All those German spectators screamed louder.

Van der Veerdonk: ‘Sometimes fans thought I was yibbi [Jansen] then. Because I also wear a hair band. I passed the children and the shouting started, haha. Then I knew: after the game I have to drop that tire quickly. I may have made many people happy by just giving a signature or making a selfie. But it’s nicer if they do that with the real Yibbi. The resident of Limburg had no shortage of attention anyway. ‘I have many interviews at L1, the Omroep van Limburg. The fact that we stayed in Venlo during the European Championships made it extra especially for them. ‘
Van der Laan was suddenly in De Telegraaf with a large interview. “That was new, yes. You are of course used to a little media. I have previously been to Field Hockey.nl and our competition matches appear on Viaplay. But not this. Is good for the sport, right? This attention. ‘

So they spent two weeks in their chic hotel in the Venlo Woods, on a hill. Laid together in the room. ‘We both also like to lie on our beds. I didn’t always have to talk. Felt comfortable. ‘Van der Laan:’ However, it was fun. You sit in a group all day. We were able to charge our batteries in our room. Fortunately we thought the same and sometimes we were nice and quiet. Super fun.

The two spaceers just after the last whistle in the final. Photo: Willem Vernes

Hunting bug in the bedroom

Van der Laan: ‘I felt a bit like the little man in our room. If there was only a small critter … a spider, fly or mosquito, I had to go to work. ‘Van der Verdonk: “And then she didn’t grab a piece of paper … No, only with her hand. Bam! Then she hit such an animal. When I wanted to grab one, I fell off the bed. We had a good smile together.

They look at each other radiantly. The two newcomers in the Orange not only recorded an EC title, but also made a ship -made memories. “We will never forget these weeks. It was super special to experience this together in this way. ‘