Co-hosted by Chinese community organizations in the Netherlands and organized by the Netherlands Chinese Snack Bar Owners Association, the 1st Dutch Chinese "Bakhuus Cup" Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament & "Zhejiang Cares • Thousands of Miles, Zongzi Brings Affection" Dragon Boat Festival Care for Overseas Chinese – Netherlands Station was grandly held on May 26 on the canals of Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.

More than 1,000 people attended the event, including Counselor Yu Jian, Cultural Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, Director Li Guannan, Secretary Ma Tian, Secretary Lin Yingqi and Secretary Chen Zihao of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Mr. Ton Heerts, Mayor of Apeldoorn, Mr. Tonny Benschop, representative of the Dutch Water Sports Federation, Chairman Huang Qilin of the Federation of Chinese Organizations in the Netherlands, members of over 20 participating teams, cheerleaders and audiences from all directions. All attendees were immersed in the rich folk cultural atmosphere of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.

Before the opening ceremony, a group photo was first taken with representatives of the organizing, co-organizing units and distinguished guests.

Chairman Huang Qilin of the Federation of Chinese Organizations in the Netherlands delivered the opening speech first.

The first dragon boat invitational tournament has provided a platform for the Chinese community in the Netherlands to promote the excellent traditional sports of the Chinese nation, allowing everyone to fully immerse themselves in the cultural atmosphere of the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.

In early 2024, the Guangdong Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese donated two dragon boats to the Chinese community in the Netherlands, which are now stationed in Eindhoven. A management team consisting of 11 members, namely Huang Qilin, Chen Long, Kong Haifeng, Yu Bin, Wu Shifen, Ye Xiangfu, Chen Guangping, Cai Yong, Chen Jie, Jin Dong and Zhou Gangliang, is responsible for their management. On June 3, 2024, the first Chinese dragon boat training base in the Netherlands was officially established. The holding of the first dragon boat invitational tournament this year signifies that dragon boat management and related activities will become regularized.

This dragon boat invitational tournament is also a vivid practice of cultural exchanges between China and the Netherlands. The Chinese community has demonstrated the unique charm of Chinese culture to Dutch society, enabling more Dutch friends to learn about and understand China. Chairman Huang Qilin also expressed special thanks to the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Zhejiang Province and the Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese for the consistent delivery of zongzi. Over the years, the "Zhejiang Cares" series of activities for overseas Chinese has benefited Zhejiang-origin compatriots around the world, taking root deeply in their hearts and making them feel the warmth of the motherland.

Mr. Ton Heerts, Mayor of Apeldoorn, said in his speech that Apeldoorn is an ideal venue for dragon boat races, and the city will also hold its own dragon boat event in a few weeks. Therefore, he expressed his gratitude for choosing Apeldoorn as the host of the first Chinese dragon boat invitational tournament, welcomed the Chinese community, and wished the event a great success.

Counselor Yu Jian delivered a speech in both Chinese and English.

We would  to thank the City of Apeldoorn for allowing the Chinese community to hold the first dragon boat invitational tournament here.Counselor Yu Jian stated that while the dragon boat race is being held in the Netherlands, he understands that Dutch athletes are also participating in dragon boat competitions in China, and Dutch teams have also ed this Chinese-organized dragon boat event.He expressed hope that Chinese and Dutch friends can together enjoy this wonderful dragon boat racing activity. He also thanked the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Zhejiang Province and the Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese for their care for overseas Chinese compatriots and their consistent promotion of the "Zhejiang Cares" series of brand activities.This year, the "Zhejiang Cares • Thousands of Miles, Zongzi Brings Affection" Dragon Boat Festival Care for Overseas Chinese – Netherlands Station is also held concurrently.

Speech by Chen Long, Executive Chairman of the Federation of Chinese Organizations in the Netherlands and Convener of the Zhejiang Overseas Chinese Organizations Alliance of the Netherlands.

This year, the overseas Chinese community in the Netherlands has taken dragon boat racing as a bond, integrating the spirit of "sticking together in the same boat and striving for the first"  China-Netherlands cultural exchanges. This is not only a sports event, but also a bridge for cultural exchanges between the two countries. With oars as our medium, we let the Dutch people experience the charm of the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival customs; through competitions, we make friends and inspire resonance among diverse cultures! The waves stirred up by the participating dragon boat teams are not just ripples forward, but also the mission of cultural inheritance. The overseas Chinese community in the Netherlands takes it as our responsibility to unite overseas Chinese organizations and promote Chinese culture. We will continue to boost collaboration among overseas Chinese groups and deepen the enduring people-to-people friendship between China and the Netherlands.

Today, we are also holding the Dutch stop of the "Zhe Li You Ai · Thousands of Miles Away, Zongzi Brings Affection" Dragon Boat Festival Condolence Activity for Overseas Chinese. Later on, everyone present will receive Dragon Boat Festival gift boxes presented by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Zhejiang Provincial People's Government and the Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese from our hometown. Each gift box contains four vacuum-packed fragrant zongzi produced by Zhiweiguan, a time-honored brand in Zhejiang Province, as well as a family letter for the Dragon Boat Festival. The four zongzi are respectively millet jujube zongzi, osmanthus lotus root zongzi, Longjing tea red bean zongzi, and sweet bean alkaline water zongzi. Every zongzi in the box carries not only the taste of hometown, but also the care from the ancestral (home) country for overseas Chinese compatriots. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the "Zhe Li You Ai" series of condolence activities for overseas Chinese has been carried out consistently. From care funds to Dragon Boat Festival zongzi, from Mid-Autumn mooncakes to Spring Festival gifts, every token of care embodies the deep thoughts from our hometown.

Speech by Zhou Xiaomin, Vice Chairman of Bakhuus Group, Representative of the Title Sponsor.

As a fast-food chain brand rooted in the Netherlands, Bakhuus is honored to be the sponsor of the first Chinese Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament in the Netherlands. This represents an important step for us to support the dragon boat race and actively fulfill corporate social responsibility. We hope to support the development of the Chinese community in the Netherlands through concrete actions, and contribute to the cultural exchanges between China and the Netherlands.

Jin Dong, Chairman of the Conference, read out the competition rules and precautions, and announced the start of the Eye-Dotting Ceremony.

The event was hosted by Mr. Chen Jie, Secretary-General of the Federation of Chinese Organizations in the Netherlands, and Ms. Hu Haiqiong, the "Gold Medal Master of Ceremonies" of the Chinese Potato Shop Association of the Netherlands.

After intense competition, the Europe Netherlands Overseas Chinese Love Foundation won the women's championship. Eindhoven Kano Vereniging Beatrix, the Netherlands Chinese Catering Association, and the Netherlands Chinese Potato Shop Association took first, second and third place respectively.

The 23 participating teams of the 1st Dutch Chinese "Bakhuus Cup" Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament are as follows: Bakhuus Blue Team, Federation of Chinese Organizations in the Netherlands, China General Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands, Guangzhou Association in the Netherlands, Limburg Chinese Association in the Netherlands, Wencheng Association in the Netherlands, Team of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, General Chinese Association in the Netherlands, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Netherlands Committee, Qingtian Association in the Netherlands, Bakhuus, European Dutch Overseas Chinese Women's , Eindhoven Kano Vereniging Beatrix, Chinese Potato Shop Association of the Netherlands, Big Bread Kitchen, Europe Netherlands Overseas Chinese Love Foundation, Netherlands Rui'an Education Foundation, Wenzhou Association in the Netherlands, Belgian French Fries Shop Owners Association, Wenzhou Overseas Chinese Association in the Netherlands, Henan Association in the Netherlands, Jiangsu Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands, and Chinese Catering Association of the Netherlands.

Speech by Luo Ming, representative of NIO.

NIO, a Chinese-invested enterprise in the Netherlands, sponsored home charging piles as prizes for the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up.Luo Ming, representative of NIO, stated that the company is committed to promoting traditional Chinese culture and will continue to contribute to the development of Chinese dragon boat racing in the Netherlands in the future.

Mr. Jin Dong, President of the Netherlands Chinese Snack Bar Owners Association, the organizer of this event, announced that the next competition will be hosted by the Europe Netherlands Qiaoi Foundation.On behalf of the overseas Chinese community in the Netherlands, Chairman Huang Qilin of the Federation of Chinese Organizations in the Netherlands presented the flag to the representative of the next host organization.

The 27 co-organizers, undertakers, supporters and sponsors are:The Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, Federation of Chinese Organizations in the Netherlands, Netherlands Chinese Snack Bar Owners Association, Bakhuus, General Chinese Overseas Association in the Netherlands, Netherlands Qingtian Fellow Townsmen Association, Netherlands Chinese General Association, Netherlands Chinese Cuisine Association, Europe Netherlands Qiaoi Foundation, Netherlands Rui’an Education Foundation, Netherlands General Chamber of Commerce of China, General Association of Chinese Overseas in Limburg, Netherlands Guangzhou Fellow Townsmen Association, European Netherlands Overseas Chinese Women’s Federation, Netherlands Association for the Promotion of Sino-Dutch Economic and Trade, Netherlands Wencheng Fellow Townsmen Association, Netherlands Chinese Beverage & Catering Association, Netherlands Wenzhou Fellow Townsmen Association, Netherlands China Culture Foundation, Netherlands Chinese Youth Federation, Netherlands Wenzhou Overseas Chinese Association, Belgian Chinese French Fries Shop Owners Association, Big Bread Kitchen, Netherlands Jiangsu Chamber of Commerce, Netherlands Henan Fellow Townsmen Association, Bakhuus Team of Netherlands Chinese Basketball Association, and Eindhoven Kano Vereniging Beatrix.

Special thanks to President Zhou Shanchuan of the Dutch Chinese Photography Association for taking the photos.