Dutch Tour Visiting some breeders of typical DUTCH fancy pigeon breeds We received a request from Dominque Harmant, chairman of the French Pigeon Association of Tumblers and High flyer s, and the well-known German pigeon photographer Thomas Hellmann, to try and arrange for a trip visiting breeders of our National Fancy pigeons. The publisher of this magazine, organised the trip to be on Saturday 21st of April 2007. This article is just a brief summary of what happened and what fanciers we met during that day. Of course, there is much more to be said about these breeds, but we will be back on a more comprehensive issue on a later date. An initiative is taken by the French Special Club of Tumblers (Club des Amis du Culbutant et du Haut-Volant d Exposition - in short CACHE) to come to a joint venture and issue a new book of all tumblers and Highflyers - even the non-exhibit flying- Pigeons - over the world where they are known of. Therefore both gentlemen wanted to meet some of the leading Dutch breeders in order to come to an honest reproduction. We had a wonderful and interesting day, not mentioning that our time estimated and planning did not work. The first visit was planned at Jan Dobbe in Leidschendam, a well-known breeder of the Holle Cropper. Much to our surprise he had a huge collection of beautiful Groninger Slenke pigeons in the loft of his warehouse. above: Groninger Slenke with the colour denomination pale red. It looks like Strawberry mealy and is found in this breed only. left: Groninger Slenke with the colour denomination 'red spar'. It looks like Strawberry and is found in this breed only.
Next visit was made at the agriculture plant of Piet van Paridon in Voorschoten. His collection of the Malthezer pigeons is a beauty. The known Pigeon judge Rinus van den Heuvel has kept his pigeons on this estate. A side: Thomas Hellmann in full concentration photographing pigeons in his special pen. His assistant is Dominique Harmant - chairman of the French Tumbler and Highflyer Club, the CACHE. We had the opportunity to picture The Haque (Hagenaar) Highflyers of Rinus van den Heuvel too. It is said that - in the old days - The Haque High flyers existed in red and yellow too. Rinus still has one of those, here pictured in the nest-bowl. Down left: Beautiful English Pygmy Pouters of Rinus
Well, up to Almere where we should meet Mr. Bargmann. Born and bred in Amsterdam. His father had at that time a typical Amsterdam Pigeon loft on top of a 4 store building. Almere is a new build City (about 25 years now) a quiet area with enough possibilities to build a nice pigeon loft. His Amsterdam Tipplers and Amsterdam (Beard) Tumblers are having a free flight. Below: Amsterdam Tipplers landing after their free flight. We think all of us would like to have the possibility to see our birds coming home this way. Below: Amsterdam Tippler cock in front of his breeding pen. Left: Amsterdam (Beard) Tumbler: Red (cock) and Yellow (hen). Below: End of April, already sufficient youngster are bred this season. Breeding bowls cleaned and waiting to dry before putting them away.
Above: Two Amsterdam Beard Tumblers at Mr. Bargmann in Almere. Left a black and right a blue, black barred. Beside the fact that their marking has not been adjusted yet, they still show their perfect beard marking. Top mandible is always black, under mandible light coloured. That is essential in this variety. A clear eye is what we wish but a little reddish colouring is accepted. Our next and fourth visit was in t Harde (between Harderwijk and Zwolle). Mr. van t Hul is one of the leading breeders of Dutch Helmets. Look at the trophies he won over the years. Right: A special reward was the winning Helmet which became champion of the 75-years jubilee anniversary show of the NBS (Dutch National Pigeon Association) Mr. A van t Hull at his trophies.
Right: pigeon-house of Mr. van t Hull with flights and his Helmets and Vienne Longfaced CL tumblers. Left: Helmet, red colour. Being overtrained his birds were to tame to picture. Of course it s a nice way to enjoy your birds mostly but it will be difficult for a judge getting them in the right standing position. Right: Yellow Helmet with a beautiful body. Below: Very relaxed on the grain feeder, not afraid for any stranger. Right: Red Helmet on the nest with his youngsters. Perfect feeders.
Above and left: In the aviary the Helmets and the Vienne Longfaced CL tumblers housed together, without causing any problem. Right: Both, Tumblers and Helmets kept in one breeding section without any aggression. The fifth and our last visit was planned in the area of Amsterdam. Hard to arrive in time as there were a lot of traffic problems due to reconstructions with alternative directions. So our navigation computer was not able to coop with that. Finally we met Mr. J.H. Straver in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. Just like the former visits of this day we would not like to have missed it for a dime. Mr. Straver is breeding Gelderse Slenke pigeons. Yes you read it well Gelderse Slenke. Originally a really old breeding - not officially accepted by the Dutch Pigeon Association yet - but there is a lot of interest for this Slenke variety. In the old days this 'Slenke' has been seen in Cities like Arnhem and Nijmegen in the province of Gelderland. It is very much linked to the Groninger Slenke but kept especially for their way of acting in free fight; the so called 'track and drive'. A special way of flying. Clapping their wings while getting higher up in the Sky 'track' and further downwards in an open wings slide, called drive. Left: These Gelderse Slenke are housed on top of his warehouse. Very dry and spacey where they have their free flight possibility. They do have a number of breeding pens in which they nurse and feed their own youngsters. On the wall the possibilities to get away from the crowd. The colouring is signified with the Groninger Slenke as you can see.
Right: The Gelderse Slenkes are making use of the relax places fitted to the wall. Below: Window from which they have their free flight. Right: Not being relaxed for the picturing. Not like the Show Slenke which is usually handled more often. Below: The Gelderse Slenke red more eased but needs a bit more blowing. Bottom right: Gelderse Slenke correct crop formation, but needs more length in neck. Copyright 2008 Aviculture-Europe. All rights reserved by VBC.