Fierljeppen

Name: Fierljeppen
Start: 2025-05-02
End: 2025-09-20
Location: Friesland

The Flying Dutch Tradition Across the Fields and Canals

2026/05/01 - 2026/09/19

Every summer, the plains of Friesland and Utrecht echo with cheers and splashes during Fierljeppen, the Netherlands’ legendary “canal pole vault.” In this thrilling traditional sport, athletes sprint down a grassy runway, leap onto a long pole, climb skyward, and launch themselves across a canal-sometimes soaring nearly 20 meters. Fierljeppen is a spectacle of adrenaline, laughter, and rural Dutch culture, captivating both locals and visitors as a true highlight of the Dutch summer.

The season runs from May to September, with local qualifiers and demonstrations held in villages and towns across Friesland. The climax is the Dutch Championship. The scent of fresh grass, the smack of bare feet on wooden ramps, the roar and splash as a jumper makes a huge leap-sunlight glinting off the canal and athletes flying through the air-these are the sights and sounds that define a Dutch summer.

Main Attractions

The Fierljeppen Competition: Aerial Battles of Skill and Nerve

The heart of the festival is the fierce Fierljeppen competition itself. Men, women, juniors, and seniors dash down the grassy track, leap onto poles up to 13 meters long, climb quickly, and time their jump to land in a sandpit across the canal. Speed, power, balance, and courage are all tested, and jumps over 21 meters are not uncommon. Even shorter jumps win applause for bravery and style.

Local matches, regional championships, and the season’s highlight-the Dutch Championship (Nederlands Kampioenschap)-draw top athletes and thousands of spectators for record-breaking leaps and wild cheers.

Demonstrations, Junior Leagues, and Family Fun

Fierljeppen isn’t just for elite athletes. Many events offer demonstrations and try-it-yourself corners, where tourists and children can attempt the pole vault under the guidance of experienced jumpers. Junior and amateur divisions are popular, with kids splashing into the water and laughing in the mud. The festival grounds are alive with music, commentary, and the sound of splashing landings and cheers.

Cultural and Historical Background

Fierljeppen means “far leaping” in Frisian and began as a practical skill for farmers to cross canals and ditches. For centuries, people used wooden poles to reach fields or neighboring villages, and eventually, this evolved into a sport. The earliest record dates to 1771, and the modern league system and official rules were established in 1957.

Today, Fierljeppen is a symbol of Frisian and Dutch ingenuity and pride in living with land and water. In 2023, it remains a cherished part of regional identity and summer community life.

Participant Voices

“I’ve been coming to watch Fierljeppen with my family since I was a child. Every huge leap or splash gets a massive cheer! This is what Dutch summer fun is all about.”

Fun Facts

The official Fierljeppen record is over 21 meters (about 70 feet).
The pole’s tip has a flat plate to prevent it from sinking into the mud.

Festival Dates

Fierljeppen is held every year from May to September in Friesland, Utrecht, and other regions. Don’t miss the championship finals-cheer on the jumpers and experience the thrill of “flying Dutch spirit” as they soar across the canals!