Description
With the Jaap Eden Vijfje, the third issue in the series of Dutch Sports Icons, the Netherlands honors its greatest skating legend of the past.

Jacobus Johannes Eden (Groningen, 19 October 1873) grew into the Netherlands' greatest skating legend at the end of the 19th century. Although that was more than 100 years ago, his exceptional achievements are still widely recognized in our skating country. For example, the annual sports award 'Athlete of the Year' is named after him and the Jaap Eden Ice Rink was opened in Amsterdam in 1961. Read more about Jaap Eden on our page “About Jaap Eden”.

Designed by Wineke Gartz
The Jaap Eden Fiver was designed by artist Wineke Gartz. We see Jaap Eden who comes to us skating in the manner of a great champion: strong and unyielding, but also calm and natural. We see the bent attitude of the winner who goes his own way, through wind and weather, driven by the will to be the best. It even reminds me a bit of the harsh winters of the past. The deep scratches in the ice give the feeling of a Dutch landscape and symbolize the impression that Jaap Eden left as an athlete.

On the front we see the scratches mirrored back. The impact of Jaap Eden literally permeates here in the present. The raised scratches on the glossy background form a festive, radiant background for the portrait of King Willem-Alexander. Read more about the design on our page “The designer speaks”.

About Jaap Eden

Jacobus Johannes Eden (Groningen, October 19, 1873) grew into one of the greatest sports legends in the Netherlands at the end of the 19th century. Although that was more than 100 years ago, his exceptional achievements are still widely recognized. For example, the annual sports award 'Athlete of the Year' is named after him and the Jaap Eden IJsbaan was opened in Amsterdam in 1961.

Homegrown sports legend

As a child, Jaap Eden played sports a lot in and around the Ruine van Brederode. At the age of 15 he was discovered by Klaas Pander, who became his skating trainer. In December 1890 he won his first skating competition. His international debut followed a year later and in 1893 he won his first World title at the age of 19. The following year, he broke two world records, of which his five-kilometer record held for 17 years. He broke his own world record in the 10 kilometers a year later. In 1895 (Hamar) and 1896 (Saint Petersburg) he again won the world title. Jaap Eden was also successful as a cyclist with a world championship (1894) and a world record in the 1,000 meters (1896). Jaap Eden was very popular with the public and, without knowing it, laid the foundation of our identity as a skating country. Unfortunately, the success was also Jaap's downfall. He died at the age of 51, destitute and in solitude.

The designer speaks

Artist Wineke Gartz is the designer of the Jaap Eden commemorative coin. She explains below how she came up with the design and what can be seen on the coin.

Wineke Gartz speaking
The Netherlands is proud of its skating champions. That certainly applies to Jaap Eden. He became world champion on January 14 in 1893 on the ice rink next to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which is now the museum square. He could not have imagined that, only 19 years old, he was thus at the beginning of a long tradition that has become part of our identity. We are a skating nation, and we honor our national heroes on the ice.

The sporting achievements of Jaap Eden still appeal enormously to the imagination today. He was not only the best in the world on skates, but also on bicycles. Powerful, fearless, headstrong. His name is synonymous with victory. Whoever is voted best sportsman or sportswoman of the year in the Netherlands, wins the Jaap Eden Trophy.