Dutch world-class athletes headline international top athletics meeting

On Sunday afternoon, 21 June 2026, the 45th edition of the FBK Games will take place at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Stadium in Hengelo, the Netherlands’ only international top-level athletics meeting. Featuring Dutch world-class athletes such as Femke Bol, Niels Laros, Lieke Klaver, Nadine Visser, Sofie Dokter and Jessica Schilder, alongside many international stars, spectacular performances are guaranteed.

Men’s 100 metres: Dutch relay stars versus African sprint power

The personal bests of Ferdinand Omanyala (9.77, Kenya) and Akani Simbine (9.82, South Africa) are astonishing, but the Dutch bronze medal in the 4x100 metres at last year’s World Championships in Tokyo was no coincidence. Taymir Burnet, Xavi Mo-Ajok and Elvis Afrifa all share an identical personal best of 10.09 and have proven they can compete with the world’s top relay nations such as the United States, Canada and Jamaica. In Hengelo, it will all come down to who delivers on the day. Last year, Afrifa was the surprise winner.

Women’s 100 metres: Minke Bisschops arrives in Hengelo in top form

Since last year, Minke Bisschops (23) has become the second-fastest Dutch female sprinter of all time behind Dafne Schippers. She excels across all sprint distances and last week came within one hundredth of a second of her 2025 personal best of 11.05. Three of her opponents — Del Ponte, Davies and Lyston — have already broken the 11-second barrier, but don’t be surprised if Bisschops takes victory in Hengelo.

Men’s 400 metres: Jonas Phijffers succeeds Liemarvin Bonevacia

For fifteen years, Liemarvin Bonevacia (37) ruled Dutch athletics on the 400 metres. He gave athletics-loving Netherlands records, European medals, Olympic finals and memorable interviews. In his final season, however, a worthy successor has emerged: Jonas Phijffers, who turns 23 shortly before the FBK Games and hails from the province of Overijssel. Last year, he broke the 45-second barrier for the first time during the FBK Games and also claimed victory. Both athletes return to Hengelo on 21 June, joined by fellow Dutchman Eugene Omalla. The competition will be fierce, with several athletes boasting blistering times in the 44-second range, including American athlete Deadmon with 44.22.

Women’s 400 metres: Lieke Klaver and Myrte van der Schoot among the world elite

Lieke Klaver (27) has been part of the world elite in the 400 metres for more than five years, highlighted by her indoor European title in Apeldoorn last year. In the 4x400 metres relay she has already won every major title, including Olympic gold. At the European Championships in Birmingham this August, she aims to shine once again in her individual 400 metres, and Hengelo provides the ideal stepping stone as she targets a time under 50 seconds.

Myrte van der Schoot (22) continues to close the gap, as demonstrated during the Dutch Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn in March, where she followed Klaver to a superb 51.33 on the tight indoor track. Could she break the 51-second barrier for the first time at the FBK Games? Czech world indoor champion Manuel may well start as the favourite.

Men’s 800 metres: Dream clash between Niels Laros and Samuel Chapple

Niels Laros and Samuel Chapple are the two standout names in Dutch middle-distance running. Laros, still only 21, specialises in the 1500 metres but is equally impressive over 800 metres, as shown by his best time of 1:44.19. Chapple (27) made his breakthrough last year by setting multiple Dutch indoor records and becoming European indoor champion over 800 metres. His best outdoor performance stands at 1:43.96.

A dream showdown between the two is set to unfold in Hengelo. Ryan Clarke, Tony van Diepen and Stefan Nillessen are also in the field and eager to set personal bests. Ireland’s McPhillips and Kenya’s Kinyamal have previously clocked 1:42.15 and 1:42.08 respectively.

Women’s 800 metres: Femke Broeders-Bol’s first 800 metres race on Dutch soil

Femke Broeders-Bol is embracing a new challenge after her remarkable successes in the 400 metres hurdles, including an unbeaten Diamond League streak spanning five years, world indoor records over 400 metres and numerous relay medals. Last winter, she competed in an 800 metres race for the first time and immediately ran under two minutes — a unique achievement.

Now, the crowd favourite will compete in the 800 metres on Dutch soil for the first time. One thing is certain: together with the Hengelo crowd, she is set to create an unforgettable spectacle. Eveline Saalberg, who ran 2:00.30 last week, joins the field, while relay teammate Lisanne de Witte will act as pacemaker. Uganda’s Nakaayi, Australia’s Caldwell and Poland’s Wielgosz all own personal bests in the 1:57 range and appear to be ideal challengers.

Men’s 1500 metres: Noah Baltus keeps getting faster

Noah Baltus has improved his personal best this season to 3:34.38. He faces particularly strong competition from Verheyden and Szot, both of whom have previously run times in the 3:30 range.

Men’s 5000 metres: Tim Verbaandert and Mike Foppen target sub-13 minutes

Tim Verbaandert is in superb form and is aiming to become the first Dutch athlete ever to break the 13-minute barrier for the 5000 metres. Last week, during the Oslo Diamond League meeting, he served as the perfect pacemaker for the world elite over the first 3000 metres, but to the surprise of many, he continued racing and eventually finished in 13:13.

Mike Foppen remains the Dutch record holder in the 5000 metres with a personal best of 13:02.43. Another Dutch athlete, Mahadi Abdi Ali, is also approaching the magical 13-minute mark with a personal best of 13:04.05.

Men’s 110 metres hurdles: Chasing world-class times

Last week, during the NCAA Championships in Eugene, USA, Ja'Kobe Tharp shattered the world record with a sensational 12.75. It once again proves that records are made to be broken. Hengelo participant Crittenden has previously clocked 12.93. Dutch hurdlers Job Geerds and Timme Koster will look to raise their level against this outstanding international field.

Women’s 100 metres hurdles: Nadine Visser among the world elite for a decade

Nadine Visser (31) is both the world indoor silver medallist and European indoor silver medallist in the 60 metres hurdles. Last year she made enormous progress in the 100 metres hurdles — the event she contests in Hengelo — and with her personal best of 12.28 she belongs to the absolute world elite.

Since 2015, Visser has achieved no fewer than ten top-eight finishes in Olympic Games and World Championship finals. Last year’s winner returns on Sunday to face, among others, the fast American hurdlers Armstrong and Johnson. Maayke Tjin A-Lim and Mira Groot are also strong hurdlers aiming for the European Championships in Birmingham later this summer. The women’s hurdles events will feature in both the preliminary and main programme.

Women’s long jump: Pauline Hondema versus Sofie Dokter

The women’s long jump promises to be an exciting contest featuring Dutch record holder Pauline Hondema (6.91 metres) and world indoor pentathlon champion Sofie Dokter. Hondema has established herself at world-class level, while Dokter also excels in the discipline as a combined-events athlete, boasting a personal best of 6.61 metres.

France’s Kpatcha has already jumped beyond seven metres and recently won the Stockholm Diamond League meeting, while Italy’s Iapichino is the reigning European indoor champion and a two-time Diamond League final winner. Grandstand seats with the best view of the long jump pit are still available.

Women’s high jump featuring world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh

There is no higher level in women’s high jump than Yaroslava Mahuchikh. The Ukrainian star is the world’s best with a height of 2.10 metres. Dutch athlete Glenka Antonia will also be competing.

Pole vault: Menno Vloon targets magical barrier

Since winning the European indoor title in Apeldoorn last year, Menno Vloon (32) appears to be competing with renewed freedom and confidence. He continues to vault higher and consistently delivers on the biggest stages. His greatest ambition is to clear the magical six-metre barrier for the first time. Perhaps he will finally achieve it in Hengelo, right in front of the main grandstand.

Two competitors, American vaulter Nilsen and the Philippines’ Obiena, have already cleared six metres in their careers.

Women’s shot put: Jessica Schilder in sensational form

World champion shot putter Jessica Schilder is, of course, one of the stars of the 45th FBK Games in Hengelo. Crowned Dutch Sportswoman of the Year, she is eager to continue her outstanding form in 2026 with her four-kilogram shot, and Hengelo remains a venue where she consistently excels.

In her first outdoor competition of the season, over a month ago at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting, she produced an incredible 21.09 metres — a mark not achieved anywhere in the world for fourteen years. Discus thrower Jorinde van Klinken will also compete and is equally capable in the shot put.

Men’s discus throw: Shaquille Emanuelson versus Ruben Rolvink

One athlete, Shaquille Emanuelson, broke the 34-year-old Dutch discus record previously held by Erik de Bruin last year in the American discus hotspot of Ramona. The other, Ruben Rolvink, repeated that remarkable feat at the end of May by becoming the first Dutch athlete ever — twice in the same competition — to throw beyond 70 metres. The new Dutch record now stands at 71.22 metres.

The showdown between the two promises to be spectacular. No fewer than five international world-class throwers with personal bests beyond 70 metres will also compete in Hengelo.

Para athletics embraced by the Reggeborgh Foundation

Since 2025, the Reggeborgh Foundation and the FBK Games have worked closely together to provide para-athletes with the stage they deserve. As in previous editions, several para-athletes who rank among the world’s best in their classes will shine at the FBK Games.

This year’s programme includes the 100 metres, 200 metres, long jump and shot put. Spectators can look forward to outstanding performances from long jumper Fleur Jong, 200 metres athlete Olivier Hendriks and shot putter Lara Baars. Through this collaboration, the Reggeborgh Foundation and the FBK Games bring the public closer to the sport while contributing to the continued growth of para athletics.

The FBK Games 2026 preliminary programme, featuring numerous talented athletes, begins on Sunday 21 June at 12:00 noon. The main programme starts at 14:30 and continues until 17:00.