Exactly eleven days ago Danique van der Veerdonk became national champion. On that same day she was told she could join the Dutch national team and Sunday afternoon she made her debut in the Dutch team. The world of the defender from Limburg has been completely upside down the past two weeks.
‘I have enjoyed it so much. Look at all this crowd. It’s not normal, is it? Everyone in the Orange. I’ve never played in front of such a crowd. I think it’s really wonderful to experience.’
These are the very first words of Danique van der Veerdonk (24), as she just finished her first international game. Another highlight. They just keep following each other with the defender, who proves that even for late bloomers things can suddenly go very fast. On Monday she joined Orange’s training for the first time, and six days later she was singing the national anthem at the top of her voice.
‘Really bizarre huh,’ she stammered. She is the first to admit that she had never reckoned with this scenario. When she won the final of the national title with Den Bosch on Ascension Day, she received an extra prize right after that. National coach Raoul Ehren invited her to the Pro League group. ‘I didn’t know what I was experiencing. I thought it was so special to hear,’ she says.
The beaming Danique van der Veerdonk in the lineup. Photo: Willem Vernes
Her little eyes on the clapper
While all her Bossche teammates had a day off after the final, to refuel and probably also recover from the big party, Van der Veerdonk got into the car. She had to report to the Wagener Stadium. ‘They had to have another picture of me, for on the clapper. I stood there, with those little eyes. The picture is really not my best,’ she laughs.
They had to have another photo of me for the clapper. I was standing there, with these little eyes. The photo really isn’t my best. Van der Veerdonk on the day after the national championship
On Monday, she reported for real. Took part in her very first Orange training. Of course, she already experienced a lot internationally. Won World Cup gold with the Dutch Junior Team and grabbed that same title with field hockey 5s. But those awards couldn’t match this moment. Because although she had to wait a while for it, last weekend her dream came true.
The hug between Jip Dicke and Danique van der Veerdonk, two Orange debutants. Photo: Willem Vernes
‘I have been itching at times. That I wasn’t one of them. I didn’t just move up from the Junior Team to the Dutch Team. But I also knew then: I’m just not there yet,’ she says. You can call me a late bloomer. It also took me longer to find my feet at Den Bosch. I’m 24 now, but even if I was 28. It doesn’t matter to me. I think it’s super nice that I succeeded.
From South Limburg to Orange
Van der Veerdonk started as a little girl at HC Kerkrade (now Nova). When she was twelve years old, she left for Oranje Zwart. She stayed in Eindhoven for three years, when she switched to Den Bosch. Even more kilometers from South Limburg. But distance doesn’t matter, if you have talent and a goal.
I’ve really been working with myself this past year. What can I do, to really get noticed. A kind of now or never.
Because Van der Veerdonk dreamed of making the Dutch team. But she had to wait a while for it. “Whether I still expected it?” the defender repeats aloud. After which she then remains silent for a moment. ‘Well, let me say that I hadn’t put it out of my system yet,’ is her honest answer. ‘I always kept a little bit of hope, I guess. I’ve also been really working with myself over the past year. What can I do, to really get noticed. A kind of now or never. It was kind of make or break this year.’
Photo: Willem Vernes
She made a plan for herself. She wanted to get more into attacking. ‘But defensively it also had to be better,’ she adds. ‘Offensively you just stand out a little more. I wanted a combination of always being able to play for a seven, but occasionally getting higher. Wanting to play for a nine more often, that was kind of the intention last year,’ she explains.
Racing from Landgraaf to Amsterdam
Her little plan succeeded. With her debut as a result. ‘My parents, sister, grandparents, great-aunt and roommates were all in the stands today. In the pouring rain. But they didn’t care,” she beamed. Her family was close to being late. ‘Raoul told me at breakfast this morning that I was going to play. I immediately texted my parents at the breakfast table,’ she laughs. ‘I had to, because it’s more than a two-hour drive from Landgraaf to here.’ Her family was on edge. They probably had their stuff ready, because they didn’t miss a minute of their youngest, whom they drove everywhere for years.
‘I really got on a thunderous train these past few days. Actually, it’s very strange. It helps that I know a lot of people from Den Bosch. And I played with some of them in the Dutch Junior Team. That helped,’ she reflects on her bizarre week. I played well. Gave some scoops, played some duels. It’s a bit more physical, I like that,’ she grins.
Photo: Willem Vernes
‘Got a lot more self-confidence’
‘I really tried my best this year. Got a lot more self-confidence. I love that my plan ended up working out like this,’ she says proudly. And rightly so. Does she already have a plan for playing an EC, too? She has to laugh. ‘I’m definitely not making any statements about that. It’s already super cool that I just got to play here. And I hope I get to play in a few more matches. And then we’ll see. I’m doing my best, that’s all I can do.
The Orange play six more games in the Pro League, plenty of time for extra minutes. For her supporters from Landgraaf, it is to be hoped that the highway will then be as quiet as it was on this Sunday afternoon.
by Hockey.nl
