On June 8, gentle breezes blew over the canals of Apeldoorn in early summer. Colorful flags lined the banks, drums thundered and dragon boats raced on the water. The 2nd 2026 Dutch Chinese Dragon Boat "BB KITCHEN Cup" Invitational Tournament was grandly staged here. Led by the Federation of All Chinese Associations in the Netherlands, the event was co-hosted by multiple Chinese communities and Dutch organizations, and undertaken by the Europe-Netherlands Overseas Chinese Charity Foundation. It aims to promote traditional Chinese sports, strengthen exchanges and cooperation within the local Chinese community, enhance the cohesion of overseas Chinese in the Netherlands, boost cultural ties between China and the Netherlands, and present the unique charm of Chinese culture to Dutch society.

Winning, runner-up and third-place dragon boat teams

Yu Jian, Cultural Counsellor, and Huang Mengsha, Secretary of the Consular & Overseas Chinese Affairs Section of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands; Bouwien Ten Bokum, Deputy Mayor of Apeldoorn; Huang Qilin, Chairman of the Federation of All Chinese Associations in the Netherlands; Hu Xiuqin, Chair of the Tournament Organizing Committee and the Europe-Netherlands Overseas Chinese Charity Foundation; Jin Dong, Chief Commander of the Organizing Committee and President of the General Association of Chinese Potato Shop Owners in the Netherlands; Chen Sheng, Chairman of BB KITCHEN, the title sponsor and a renowned Dutch fast-food chain, attended the opening ceremony. A total of 30 teams including the Chinese Embassy Team, Dutch Chinese teams and local Dutch teams, together with hundreds of spectators, were present. The launching ceremony of the Netherlands leg of the Dragon Boat Festival overseas Chinese consolation event "Warmth from Zhejiang: Love Across Miles, Zongzi Filled with Affection" was also held on site.

Chief Commander Jin Dong declared the opening ceremony underway.

The Europe-Netherlands Overseas Chinese Charity Foundation, an all-female organization dedicated to public welfare in the Netherlands and China, claimed the women's title at the inaugural dragon boat tournament last year. This year, it undertook the event and fielded two teams. Chairwoman Hu Xiuqin stated in her speech that dragon boat racing is a millennia-old traditional Chinese sport that embodies the spirit of solidarity and perseverance. Hosting the event in the Netherlands lets overseas Chinese revisit the sentiments of the Dragon Boat Festival and helps fine traditional Chinese culture take root and thrive abroad. She thanked the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands and Apeldoorn Municipal Government for their support, as well as Chinese communities, Dutch organizations and sponsors for their participation. She expressed the hope that the tournament would enrich cultural life in the Chinese community and deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Dutch people.

On behalf of the Federation of All Chinese Associations in the Netherlands, Chairman Huang Qilin congratulated everyone on the successful event and thanked Chairwoman Hu Xiuqin, all co-organizers, sponsors and volunteers for their hard work. He noted that dragon boat sport is an important symbol of fine traditional Chinese culture, representing the spirit of unity, collaboration and forging ahead, as well as the deep affection of overseas Chinese for their motherland. Rowing dragon boats in the Netherlands carries forward Chinese traditions and presents the positive, inclusive and harmonious image of overseas Chinese to local society.

Counsellor Yu Jian delivered a speech in both Chinese and English. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, he extended warm congratulations on the successful holding of the tournament, sent sincere regards to the Europe-Netherlands Overseas Chinese Charity Foundation, all athletes and staff. He also expressed special gratitude to the local Dutch government and all sectors of society for their long-standing strong support for China-Netherlands cultural exchanges and activities of overseas Chinese communities. He pointed out that the dragon boat race is more than a sports event; it serves as a bridge of friendship linking the two peoples and promoting cultural and people-to-people bonds. The successful tournament fully demonstrates in-depth people-to-people exchanges between China and the Netherlands. It will bring the two peoples closer and inject new momentum  bilateral cultural exchanges and practical cooperation.

Deputy Mayor Bouwien Ten Bokum said she was delighted to see the local Chinese community organize the dragon boat race, which serves as an exchange between two cultures. She added that the event has enriched Apeldoorn's cultural offerings and built a platform for communication and mutual understanding among diverse ethnic groups and communities. A growing number of Dutch residents have taken part, experiencing the charm of dragon boat sport and gaining deeper insight  traditional Chinese culture.

As the title sponsor, BB KITCHEN also formed two teams mainly consisting of Dutch participants. Chairman Chen Sheng said dragon boat racing carries forward traditional Chinese culture beyond being a sport. Its spirit of unity, perseverance and cooperation aligns closely with the values of BB KITCHEN. By sponsoring the event, the company aims to support cultural exchange and community solidarity, and help more Dutch people learn about Chinese culture.

Counsellor Yu Jian, Deputy Mayor Bouwien Ten Bokum, Chairman Huang Qilin, Chairwoman Hu Xiuqin, Chief Commander Jin Dong and Chairman Chen Sheng performed the traditional dragon eye-dotting ritual, symbolizing the arrival of an auspicious moment and the awakening of the divine dragon. Afterwards, gongs and drums resounded, praying for favorable weather and great momentum. The opening ceremony concluded successfully with the release of balloons, conveying wishes for peace and social harmony, and the competitions officially kicked off.

Counsellor Yu Jian and Chairman Huang Qilin dotted the eyes of the dragon head.

Deputy Mayor Bouwien Ten Bokum and Chairwoman Hu Xiuqin dotted the eyes of the dragon head.

Chief Commander Jin Dong and Chairman Chen Sheng dotted the eyes of the dragon head.

Gongs and drums sounded after the eye-dotting ceremony.

Chairwoman Hu Xiuqin presented a dragon boat model souvenir to Deputy Mayor Bouwien Ten Bokum.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Chen Jie, Hu Haiqiong and Li Chunye.

At the annual launching ceremony of the Netherlands event of "Warmth from Zhejiang: Love Across Miles, Zongzi Filled with Affection", Huang Qilin, Chairman of the Federation of All Chinese Associations in the Netherlands, delivered a speech. He said the Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese festival that embodies overseas Chinese's deep longing for their homeland. Zongzi contain not only glutinous rice and fillings, but also warmth and care from hometown. The series of consolation activities has long conveyed the care of the motherland and hometown to overseas compatriots. The zongzi carefully prepared by Zhejiang's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese have traveled a long way to the Netherlands, allowing overseas Chinese here to taste hometown flavors and feel the strong kinship. As co-organizers, the Federation and the Zhejiang Overseas Chinese  in the Netherlands will fully ensure the timely and accurate distribution of gifts. He hoped everyone would pass on the warmth, carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture and promote friendly exchanges between China and the Netherlands.

Yu Bin, Convener of the Zhejiang Overseas Chinese Community  in the Netherlands and Chairman of the Chinese Catering Association, read out the Dragon Boat Festival Letter from Home issued by the Zhejiang Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

The letter reads: "Short as the paper is, it holds endless longing for hometown. Fragrant zongzi conveys the profound affection from Zhejiang. On this festival symbolizing well-being and re, we sincerely wish you good health and a happy family. Let us look forward to meeting again and sharing stories of our hometown."

All participants received an exquisite Dragon Boat Festival gift box that day. On behalf of overseas Chinese communities in the Netherlands, Chairman Yu Bin expressed gratitude to the Zhejiang Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese for their long-term care for overseas compatriots.

On the race course along Apeldoorn’s canals, drums echoed loudly as teams raced hard. The competitors embodied the spirit of unity, cooperation and perseverance, adding a splendid chapter to China-Netherlands cultural exchanges.

After fierce competition, Team 1 of the Europe-Netherlands Overseas Chinese Charity Foundation, Maastricht Elegant Ladies Association and Team 2 of the Europe-Netherlands Overseas Chinese Charity Foundation claimed the first, second and third places in the women's division respectively. In the men's division, the Chinese Catering Association of the Netherlands, General Association of Chinese Potato Shop Owners in the Netherlands and BB KITCHEN Team 2 took the top three spots.

Chairwoman Hu Xiuqin, Chairman Chen Sheng, Chairman Huang Qilin, Secretary Huang Mengsha, Chen Long, Executive Chairman of the Federation of All Chinese Associations in the Netherlands, Kong Haifeng, representative of the Dutch Chinese Dragon Boat Committee, Lola Gong (zongzi sponsor) and Roland Huijbregts on behalf of food supplier Ad van Geloven presented trophies and medals to all winners.

Chairwoman Hu Xiuqin presented a dragon boat model souvenir to the representative of the organizer.

Secretary Huang Mengsha (middle of the back row) and zongzi sponsor Lola Gong (fourth from the left in the back row) presented awards to Team 1 of the Europe-Netherlands Overseas Chinese Charity Foundation, champion of the women's group.

Kong Haifeng, representative of the Dutch Chinese Dragon Boat Committee, presented the award to Maastricht Elegant Ladies Association, runner-up of the women's group.

Roland Huijbregts, representative of food supplier Ad van Geloven, presented the award to Team 2 of the Europe-Netherlands Overseas Chinese Charity Foundation, the third-place winner in the women's category.

Chairwoman Hu Xiuqin and Chairman Chen Sheng presented awards to the Chinese Catering Association of the Netherlands, champion of the men's group.

Chairman Huang Qilin presented the award to the General Association of Chinese Potato Shop Owners in the Netherlands, runner-up of the men's group.

Chen Long, Executive Chairman of the Federation of All Chinese Associations in the Netherlands, presented the award to BB KITCHEN Team 2, the third-place winner in the men's group.

Chairman Huang Qilin announced that the next competition will be hosted by the Netherlands Qingtian Fellow Townsmen Association. Hu Xiuqin, Chairman of the current event, presented the event flag to Sun Xiefang, President, and Ji Guopeng, President-elect of the host association.

Chairwoman Hu Xiuqin (middle of the front row) handed over the flag to Sun Xiefang (second from the right in the front row), President of the Netherlands Qingtian Fellow Townsmen Association, and Ji Guopeng (first from the right in the front row), President-elect.

Thanks to the coordination of Chairman Huang Qilin, two dragon boats donated by the Guangdong Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese to overseas Chinese in the Netherlands arrived in Eindhoven in early 2024. They are managed by a dragon boat committee consisting of 11 members: Huang Qilin, Chen Long, Kong Haifeng, Yu Bin, Wu Shifen, Ye Xiangfu, Chen Guangping, Cai Yong, Chen Jie, Jin Dong and Zhou Gangliang.

On June 3, 2024, the first training base for Dutch Chinese dragon boat teams was officially inaugurated. The inaugural Chinese Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament was held on May 26, 2025, marking the regular operation of dragon boat management and related activities. This year's invitational tournament was held successfully once again.

Members of the Dutch Chinese Dragon Boat Committee (from left): Chen Jie, Wu Shifen, Cai Yong, Yu Bin, Kong Haifeng, Huang Qilin, Chen Long, Jin Dong, Ye Xiangfu and Zhou Gangliang. Chen Guangping was absent due to personal matters.

According to Chief Director Jin Dong, there were 33 organizing, supporting, co-organizing and title-sponsoring institutions this year, up from 27 last year. A total of 30 teams took part in the competition, exceeding the previous year's 23 entries. Among them was the Centenarian Dragon Boat Team of the Netherlands Evergreen Association, which made its debut this year. It shows that dragon boat sport is winning growing popularity among overseas Chinese in the Netherlands.

The 33 co-organizers, undertakers, supporters and title sponsors of the 2026 2nd Netherlands Chinese Dragon Boat "BB KITCHEN Cup" Invitational Tournament are listed as follows:Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, Federation of All Chinese Associations in the Netherlands, Europe-Netherlands Overseas Chinese Charity Foundation, BB KITCHEN, De Borrelmaarjes, Remia, AVIko, General Association of Chinese Potato Shop Owners in the Netherlands, Netherlands Qingtian Fellow Townsmen Association, General Association of Overseas Chinese in the Netherlands, Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands, General Association of Chinese People in the Netherlands, Netherlands Wencheng Fellow Townsmen Association, European  of Overseas Chinese Women in the Netherlands, Dutch Chinese Economic and Technological Development Center, European Foundation for Chinese Students and Scholars Entrepreneurship, Netherlands Qingtian Golf Team, Netherlands Wenzhou Overseas Chinese Friendship Association, Maastricht Elegant Ladies Association, Netherlands Wenzhou Fellow Townsmen Association, Jiangsu Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands, Netherlands Fuzhou Fellow Townsmen Association, Netherlands Henan Fellow Townsmen Association, Limburg General Association of Overseas Chinese in the Netherlands, United Federation of Fujese Fellow Townsmen in the Netherlands, Netherlands Rui'an Education Foundation, International Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands, Shenzhen Dapeng Fellow Townsmen Association in the Netherlands, Chinese Catering Association of the Netherlands, Netherlands Association for China's Peaceful Reunification, Centenarian Dragon Boat Team of Netherlands Evergreen Association, Netherlands Huaxing Art Troupe and Chinese Cuisine Association of the Netherlands.

Source: United Times

Photos: Zhou Shanchuan, Hu Bizheng

Video: Li Chunye