Hans and Evert-Jan Eijerkamp - Pioneers of International Pigeon Racing Professional pigeon racing driven by passion

Starting a report on one of the most renowned pigeon racing partnerships in the international pigeon racing community poses a challenge for any writer. Countless texts have already covered many pieces of information and anecdotes, making the introduction to this report no easier. So, what captivates the reader in yet another report about Hans and Evert-Jan Eijerkamp? Much has been written, but there is always much happening in the world, in pigeon racing, and, of course, in the lofts of Eijerkamp.

Our visit begins on a Monday morning in mid-June. Summer has arrived in Europe, and the first heatwave of the summer of 2023 is in full swing. When we scheduled this appointment, we were asked to arrive after ten o'clock since Veterinarian Tony Oranje would be there to check the health of the pigeons. This check, without exception, takes place every Monday and is meticulously overseen by Hans and Evert-Jan. Even the press has to wait.

From a distance, we can see the pigeons circling the spacious premises. The heat doesn't bother the pigeons; they complete their morning training in top form. The sight upon arrival already makes the heart of any pigeon fancier skip a beat.
A six-member team is responsible for the care and training of pigeons in the Eijerkamp lofts. Lotte Eijerkamp's racing team is trained and cared for by Oliver Sabol. Esther Noorderijk is responsible for the young pigeons and, in the final weeks of this season, also for the entire old-bird team of Hans and Evert-Jan Eijerkamp. Arnold Paalman, Gerjan Remmerts, and Rick Wuestenenk exclusively handle the breeding pigeons. Henk Jurriens is the right-hand man of Hans and Evert-Jan and has been known as the primary contact for many for decades.
Operating in pigeon racing as the Eijerkamps have for more than 50 years requires a team of this size because the name Eijerkamp signifies quality and professionalism, and only in this way can both be fully guaranteed. This is once again evident in this year's results.

Since 2022, Hans and Evert-Jan Eijerkamp also compete together with Arnold Paalman in combination in Laren, where Arnold resides. They compete in Section 9, and the results in the first year with the old pigeons were phenomenal, starting with several provincial victories and impressive series.
However, anyone who believes that the size of the care team or the size of the pigeonry would mean that Hans or Evert-Jan ever lose control is sorely mistaken. Especially Hans, at 89 years old, knows his pigeons and, above all, his aces.
Janssen Brothers The pigeons of Eijerkamp are legendary, and over the years, there have been numerous names and aces worthy of mention. The breakthrough came in 1964 when Hans purchased his first pigeons from the Janssen Brothers in Arendonk. Here, the success story of the Eijerkamp pigeons began and has been continued ever since. Even today, almost sixty years later, the blood of the Janssen pigeons can still be found in the breeding stock of the Eijerkamps.

NL-18-1627863 - "Luka Modric"
One of the current aces from the Eijerkamp lofts also traces its roots back to the Janssen pigeons: "Luka Modric," named after the exceptional Croatian footballer, lives up to his name and lineage from a young age. His mother is "Honda," and through her, he represents the eighth generation of Janssen pigeons, originally brought from Arendonk to Brummen. 

As a young pigeon, he excelled on the national level in the Netherlands, becoming the first national Ace Pigeon among the youth, securing two first prizes, a third prize in the national ranking from Peronne (332 km), and a sixth prize from Troyes (447 km). Through his father, "Luka Modric" combines the Janssen pigeon lineage with the exceptional pigeons from Leo Heremans. His father, "Jackpot Junior," is a grandson of the "Olympiade 003." The Heremans pigeons entered the Eijerkamp lofts in 2006, following a recommendation from Willem de Bruijn to visit Leo Heremans and Karel Ceusters. The rest is history: the pigeons impressed, and after some young pigeons changed lofts and wrote their success story at Greenfield Stud, Hans and Evert-Jan continue to cultivate the line of these pigeons in their lofts.

Breeding Philosophy

We sit in the showroom and chat with Hans, Evert-Jan, and Henk. It's a casual conversation rather than a traditional interview. In passing, we discuss the breeding philosophy of the Eijerkamps. Evert-Jan draws a comparison to horse breeding. His daughter is an avid rider, and ten years ago, he made contact with a horse breeder who shared his own experiences, providing Evert-Jan with valuable lessons. The parallels to his observations in pigeons made this encounter crucial for him, and it now constitutes a significant part of the breeding goals in the Eijerkamp lofts.
Both the conversation with his acquaintance and his own experience confirmed for him that the best pigeons are exclusively bred "in a straight line." Brothers or sisters, uncles, or aunts could never produce the same successful pigeons as the true "superstars." In football terms, one would say, "What matters is on the field," and only direct descendants of these superstars are bred.
The Eijerkamps have also had poor experiences with introducing foreign lines. Purchases of foreign pigeons and, therefore, new lines are made rarely and with careful consideration. In 2018, based on a recommendation, Hans and Evert-Jan contacted André and Bert Leideman. A series of young pigeons joined the Eijerkamp lofts and impressed there. Therefore, it's not surprising that the Eijerkamps seized the opportunity when the Leideman brothers auctioned their racing team on an internetauction in 2020, acquiring some of the best racing pigeons up to that point. Among them were also "Viton" and "Daughter Goed Grijs." The two are the parents of "Speedy Grizzle," with top results in 2023 at Greenfield Stud: 
These results showcase the success of the "Speedy Grizzle" and its exceptional performance in various races.

On the extensive grounds of Greenfield Stud, the family Eijerkamp accommodates not only racing pigeons but also their horses. The loft for young pigeons reflects their well-being, and their achievements duly honor it. The spacious settling area allows young pigeons to move freely, familiarizing themselves with their surroundings before starting training.

The success doesn't end with "Speedy Grizzle." The breeding successes at SG Eijerkamp are noteworthy. The offspring of "Viton" x "Daughter Goed Grijs" include "Gucci Grizzle," a provincial Ace Pigeon, and "Grizzly Diamond," a winner of 2 x 1st provincial. They are also grandparents to several 1st prize winners and a 2nd and 3rd national Ace Pigeon, with the great-grandchildren of this exceptional pair already showing promise.In the lineage of "Daughter Goed Grijs," you also quickly find the Roeper and Stellermann pigeons. Her father is likewise a grandchild of "Olympic 16," and her mother, "Goed Grijs," originates from the van den Brande brothers and was herself a top flyer with the Leideman brothers before being used in breeding. Also, not to forget are top breeding pigeons like ‘Bor’ and ‘Eva’ which were acquired in the internet-Auction for Leideman in 2020. Another top pigeon is “Kai Mook’ who won 3 massive 1st prizes in the Eijerkamp lofts and now also moved to the breeding lofts.

Past, present, and future: Hans Eijerkamp built his first pigeon loft in 1955 and has been unwaveringly dedicated to pigeon racing ever since. The initial loft in his hometown Zutphen is long gone; in 1970, the world-famous Ponderosa was inaugurated, and in 1977, Hans Eijerkamp purchased the expansive property that he inaugurated as "Greenfield Stud" in 1978, where racing pigeons have been sent ever since. In nearly 70 years, he, along with his family, has managed to create not just one success story but several. Hans took over the well-known furniture business of the family early on from his father and expanded it further. Once success had been achieved in pigeon racing, just as with the furniture business, Hans recognized the potential and, in his unique way, combined the pleasant with the useful. The breeding showcase birds of Hans and Evert-Jan Eijerkamp are kept in separate breeding sections to prevent cross-fertilization.
One of the current aces from the Eijerkamp lofts, named "Luka Modric," traces its lineage back to the Janssen pigeons. He represents the eighth generation of Janssen pigeons, originally brought from Arendonk to Brummen. Hans immediately recognized the potential and, in his unique way, combined the pleasant with the useful. Who didn't know about the vouchers for a young pigeon when visiting the Eijerkamp furniture store? The concept worked, and soon not only Dutch sports enthusiasts were buying their furniture at Eijerkamp, but also breeders from all over Europe, eager to own one of the coveted Eijerkamp pigeons. Today, the company has over 300 employees at two locations and regularly utilizes television appearances to promote their furniture. The vouchers are no longer available, explained Evert-Jan. As effective as the concept was, it eventually became overwhelming and was no longer compatible with the present times.

When asked about the current times, the conversation quickly turned to the differences between pigeon racing in the Netherlands and other countries. They drew this comparison quite well. In the Netherlands and Belgium, individual races have long been the highlights, attracting large numbers of participants. It's not uncommon to participate in multiple races over a weekend, unlike in Germany. The sport today is different than it was twenty years ago and represents a completely different era than it did fifty years ago. How this transformation will ultimately unfold is unknown, just as nobody knew in the past, but it will be fascinating to observe.

AT THIS MOMENT FAMILY EIJERKAMP IS OFFERING A TOP GROUP OP HIGH QUALITY BIRDS BRED OUT THEIR PROVEN BREEDERS

THIS AUCTION ENDS THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER  AT 2 p.m. (c.e.t.)