Remembering Rob van Zijderveld: A Badminton Legend and Cherished Family Man

“A marine never gives up.” That is one of the statements of Amstelveen badminton icon Rob van Zijderveld that his family had written on his condolence card. He could be tough as a trainer, but was also known as a warm family man with a healthy sense of humor. Van Zijderveld passed away last Friday at the age of 87 after a short illness.

Rob van Zijderveld – Photo: Family archive

In 1971 Rob van Zijderveld founded the Amstelveen badminton club Van Zijderveld together with Maus Hulisélan. Many talents were given the opportunity to grow to the national and international top. In 2005 Rob van Zijderveld was appointed Member in the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Instructor of Robin Tabeling

Also Robin Tabeling – who played in the mixed doubles for the Netherlands during the Olympic Games in Paris, but has since been eliminated from the tournament – began his career with Van Zijderveld. As a toddler, Tabeling would come to Van Zijderveld’s sports hall to watch his older sister Iris. “I would often walk around there with a racket and eventually I started training with Rob van Zijderveld myself.”

“There was a nice balance between addressing you sharply and giving you compliments”

Olympic badminton player Robin Tabeling

Tabeling was able to cope well with Zijderveld’s strict attitude on the field. “People who came to train from outside were sometimes shocked by his shouting, but I was used to that. There was a nice balance between addressing you sharply and giving you compliments.”

A young Robin Tabeling with Rob van Zijderveld – Photo: Robin Tabeling

Van Zijderveld taught him the basics of badminton and continued to coach the talent for almost a decade, until Tabeling continued his career abroad. Zijderveld made an important contribution to his successes in the sport, Tabeling believes. “I had a very good relationship with him. If you would go through fire for him, he would do the same for you.”

Van Zijderveld always followed him with great interest. After a congratulation on his qualification for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, his former pupil was given the opportunity to thank him in a message. “I owe part of that achievement to you,” he wrote at the time.

‘Real family man’

Daughter Caroline tells NH that the family misses her father very much. “He was a real family man. He was someone who was always there for you, no matter how busy he was. He was also always interested in our lives and those of his six grandchildren, and wanted to know everything about their studies, sports, hobbies.”

Caroline has been inundated with responses and expressions of support from badminton players Van Zijderveld once took under his wing in recent days. Three-time world champion 45+ Georgy Trouerbach remembers him as ‘a good and strict trainer who wanted to get the best out of you at all costs’.

“He wanted to take you to the highest possible level and when he saw that you had the same goal, he would do anything to support you. In good times and bad. Mr. van Zijderveld shaped me.”

“Anyone who has trained with Van Zijderveld will carry that with them forever”

Former player Jerome German

When Trouerbach was struggling with a knee injury, Van Zijderveld visited her in the hospital. “He had a big (badminton) heart, humor and a very clear opinion. He also gave both my kids training.”

Other former players describe Van Zijderveld as ‘a second father’ from whom they not only learned to play badminton, but who also gave them important life lessons. For example, former player Jerome German writes:

“These times need people like Mr. Van Zijderveld much more. These times cry out for places like Zijderveld’s gym was. A place to come together, receive personal attention and where communication and discipline could be a simple answer to today’s problems. Van Zijderveld learned through sports to cope with life, both physically and mentally. In short, anyone who has trained with Van Zijderveld will carry that with them forever.”

Rob van Zijderveld will be cremated in private on Saturday 3 August at 11:15. The service can be followed via a livestream. His daughters have set up a foundation in their father’s name and ask people not to give flowers, but to donate to that foundation.

2024-08-01 18:40:02
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