Pétanque Union Bois le Duc

‘s-Hertogenbosch - The Netherlands

Founded on July 6, 2016

Member of the Dutch Pétanque Association (NJBB)

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NEWS - ARCHIVE 2024

You can read the news items of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc from 2024 here.

December 19, 2024 - The world around us moves at breakneck speed. If you follow the news, you gain so many impressions that every now and then you no longer know where to look, so to speak. The dark but warm days around Christmas and the turn of the year take us back to the basics of our existence, here in the Netherlands. Where we can get away from daily stress and just be ourselves in peace and quiet with family, friends and acquaintances. Especially then we should realise what a wonderful country we live in, a country where everyone has equal rights. Rights that (in theory) help everyone live in happiness and good health. Cherish that right, share it with others while enjoying being together. 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦

The daily board of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc wishes everyone a warm, peaceful Christmas and a new year full of health, strength and the ability to make a difference in this world together. 🥂🧨🍻

December 19, 2024 - Due to the upcoming holidays, our association has changed its opening hours. Thus, we will be closed on both Sunday, December 22^nd and Sunday, December 29^th. We do this quite deliberately because of the weather and the somewhat ‘crazy days’. After all, it does no one any good to have just a single soul on the pétanque lanes in ‘s‑Hertogenbosch while elsewhere, in this case at Jeu de Boules assocation L’Ammerzo in Ammerzoden, there are two super-enjoyable mixed tournaments. On their behalf, we therefore cordially invite everyone to both events held at the heated Boulodrome L’Ammerzo. 😊

December 18, 2024 - On Wednesday morning, December 11^th, journalism student at the Fontys Hogeschool in Tilburg, Lieke Koppert, approached our Chairman, Antoon van Mil. For her studies, she and her fellow students make news broadcasts. Her question was whether she could also film on our pétanque courts, this because we will very soon be installing the tent halls. This is the result (from 5:51 minutes).

Ey! Daily. is the publishing platform of Fontys Journalism Tilburg students. This is where students learn and publish. Fontys Journalism education consists of different educational roles. First-year journalism students go through the roles The Wonderers, The Storytellers, The Factcheckers and The Watchdogs. In the years that follow, students take part in The Developers, The Impact Makers, The News Makers, The Tellers and The Professionals.

Visit www.eydaily.nl for more information or ask your questions at eydaily@fontys.nl.

December 14, 2024 - Half of the National Pétanque Competition 2024-2025 is over for both teams of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. The seventh of a total of fourteen match days has been played and, exactly halfway through the competition, the balance can be drawn up.

P.U. Bois le Duc 1 had to take on PV Mooie Boule 5 in Berlicum. It was immediately clear during the first doubles round that the home team had the advantage of course knowledge. Due to the slightly thicker gravel layer and the type of gravel, the team from ‘s-Hertogenbosch had to get used to it and the home team made grateful use of this by winning twice. As a result, the unapproachable leader of the 5^th Division - Group 5003 immediately faced a 1-2 deficit. This was of short duration, however, because in the triples round P.U. Bois le Duc 1 left nothing to its opponents by winning solidly twice (3-2). In the final round, again in doubles, they quickly won twice, taking home the day’s victory with a 5-2 lead. The final doubles match was thus purely ‘administrative’ in nature and, due to player fatigue, fell just short (12-13). With a final score of 5‑3, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 leads by a distance and the team can hardly escape promotion to the 4^th Division.

Away, in PV Amicale’s pétanque hall in Cuijk, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 faced off against the home club’s second team. In the first doubles round, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 immediately fell behind. Two out of three games were lost and a 1-2 deficit was a fact. In the triples round, they then won one out of two games (1-3), so it would come down to the final doubles round to either draw or win. The latter would require winning all three doubles matches. However, this turned out to be just too much of a good thing and they won twice. As a result, the last competition day of the year ended in a draw (4-4). Nevertheless, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 retains a view of the top of the 5^th Division - Group 5002 but, to get there, it will have to keep winning.

On Saturday, January 11 th 2025, both P.U. Bois le Duc teams will play in Ammerzoden. P.U. Bois le Duc 1 will play against PV Mooie Boule 3 and P.U. Bois le Duc 2 will then meet PV Le Château 1.

December 8, 2024 - Sinterklaas has just left by steamboat for the sunny south when, on the outdoor courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc, just under twenty association members compete for the highest honour during the ‘Cold hands tournament’. For the third year in a row, they met for a friendly mixed tournament (four matches), interrupted halfway through for a communal meal of warm pea soup with rye bread and bacon. This initiative by Marco Tijl has grown into an annual association tradition. For the best three players, there was (even more) pea soup to be earned, complemented by a wooden spoon and a nicely decorated spatula.

‘Many hands make light work’, so too during the ‘Cold hands tournament’.

F.l.t.r.: Liesbeth van Ooijen - van Rooijen, Marco Tijl and Corrie van Mil - de Looijer.

This year too, it was excellent ‘bad weather’: dry, with a temperature of about 7 degrees Celsius and with a moderate but screeching cold wind. The participants had dressed for the cold but after the pea soup in a warm canteen, the inclement weather began to take its toll. Edith Pol - Willemsen, for instance, was still firmly at the top of the leaderboard before dinner, but after dinner her hands cramped up so the competition, though wearing gloves, took its chance.

Eventually Miranda Kruis won the ‘Cold hands tournament’ convincingly by being the only one to win four out of four matches with a total of 20 points. The event’s creator Marco Tijl came second with three wins and 22 points. Leading the top three: Jan Arnold, three wins and 17 points.

November 30, 2024 - On the courts of the Ammerzoden based Jeu de Boules association L’Ammerzo, both competition teams of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc played their matches of the sixth match day of the National Pétanque Competition 2024-2025 today. Both teams from ‘s‑Hertogenbosch play in the 5^th Division, each in its own group with seven more teams. In total, each team will play fourteen matches: two against each opponent including one home and one away match.

In group 5003, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 competed against PV Jeu de Bommel from Zaltbommel, the number two in the standings. So there was something to win for the team from ‘s‑Hertogenbosch ranked first. A win against the team from Zaltbommel would only increase their lead in the standings. It turned out to be a one-sided affair as all eight games were won by P.U. Bois le Duc 1 so that it is now, almost halfway through the competition, unapproachably in the lead. With eight playing days to go, promotion to the 4^th Division is in the offing.

Archive photo November 16^th 2024: Robin Coolen, P.U. Bois le Duc 1’s most effective player in action.

Robin has not lost a single match in the N.P.C. 2024-2025 so far!

P.U. Bois le Duc 2 faced PC Doetinchem 2 in group 5002. The team from ‘s-Hertogenbosch was fourth in the standings, the Doetinchem team third. A win would therefore immediately move P.U. Bois le Duc 2 up one place in the rankings. In the first doubles round, one of the three games was won so a 1-2 tie had to be overcome. In the triples round, both teams managed to win a game each: 2-3. With three doubles matches to go, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 would have to win at least twice for a draw and three times for the day’s win. Quite a task as the team line-up was limited due to the absence of reserve players. Nevertheless, the team from ‘s-Hertogenbosch played animatedly and managed to pull out a draw (4-4), albeit narrowly.

On Saturday, December 7, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 will play in Berlicum, away against PV Mooie Boule 5. A week later, on Saturday, December 14, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 will play against JBV Amicale Cuyk 2.

November 18, 2024 - ‘A good Joe,’ is how you could rightly describe Peer van Steeden. A kindly obliging good-hearted person. Peer was one of those people you don’t easily forget if you knew him. As an association member of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc, until his health really failed him, he was a familiar face. Always extremely friendly and with a smile that did not easily disappear from his face. Peer had a special way of enhancing the atmosphere, was always present with a positive attitude and always had a joke ready. When his dearest Monique was playing, something he unfortunately couldn’t do himself physically anymore, he would often still come with his electric cart to see how she was doing. Peer’s presence therefore immediately did something positive with the other attendees, a natural gift that made him so unique.

Peer’s overall commitment to the association was great and he had a genuine and warm interest in others. His humour, his careful manner of speaking, and his love of association life will always live on in our memories. Peer van Steeden was a man who made the world a little better just by being himself. We miss him, but the memories of his presence will continue to accompany us.

We wish Monique and her loved ones much strength.

November 16, 2024 - On the fifth day of the National Pétanque Competition 2024-2025, both competition teams of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc did excellent business in their 5^th Division group.

On the courts of the Schijndel based Pétanque-Vereniging Wij Liggen, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 reinforced its leading position in group 5003 of the 5^th Division by winning with resounding figures against the always sporty and convivial players from Schijndel. The day’s win went to the team from ‘s‑Hertogenbosch by no less than 7-1. Because competitor PV Jeu de Bommel lost against JdB association L’Ammerzo by 3-5, the first team of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc distances itself from the rest of the standings and seems to be heading for promotion to the 4^th Division.

Standing f.l.t.r.: Corrie van Mil - de Looijer, Liesbeth van Ooijen - van Rooijen, Robin Coolen,

Edith Pol - Willemsen and John Pol. Squatted f.l.t.r.: Antoon van Mil, Hans van Woerkum and Dennis Pol.

P.U. Bois le Duc 2 has clearly reinvented itself since the previous competition day because, out in Wijchen against Pétanque-Vereniging Le Château, the second team of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc put the home club aside by no less than 6-2. With that, the team is doing good business in group 5002 of the 5^th Division and, partly due to the win a fortnight ago, is slowly climbing to the top of the standings.

Standing f.l.t.r.: Johan de Koning, Gwenda Kok - Tijl, Elly Smit, Inge Boonzaaijer en Marco Tijl.

Squatted f.l.t.r.: Ronald Crombeen and Jan Arnold.

On Saturday, November 30^th both teams will play again. P.U. Bois le Duc 1 will then play in Ammerzoden against PV Jeu de Bommel, the number 2 of the competition. P.U. Bois le Duc 2 will meet Pétanque Club Doetinchem, also in Ammerzoden.

November 15, 2024 - Wow!!! Johan de Koning fixed that nicely. 🥳 And that saves some ‘magnet holders’ a lot of bending over. Thanks 🙂s

November 15, 2024 - Thanks to Johan de Koning and Hans van Woerkum, not only was the small playing area cleared of the coarse gravel today, but the weeds were also firmly tackled, making the accommodation 'winter-ready'. Well done men!!! 🥳

November 14, 2024 - For the first time in its existence, Pétanque Union Bois le Duc organised an autumn meeting. At this second General Members’ Meeting of the year, the budget for 2025 was adopted, among other things, and John Stohr, - in his role as Chairman of the Building Committee -, gave an update on the realisation of the marquees (2 units, 12 x 8 metres) and the route towards a permanent pétanque hall (boulodrome). As things stand, our association will receive the permit for the marquees on December 23rd 2024. Depending on weather conditions, it will then be assessed whether installation will take place immediately or still in spring. The terrain around the pétanque courts is so boggy in the autumn and winter months that it hinders placement.

John Stohr gives about the current state of affairs as Chairman of the Building Committee.

The power of a General Members Meeting was once again proven. Not only because of its high social character (meeting each other) but also because, with a majority of votes, broad-based decisions can be taken. For example, it was decided to strip the small playing area of coarse gravel for a number of reasons. Namely, the playing area is too difficult for the more recreational players so that people call it ‘by necessity’ need to play a bit further down the road, in the big playing area: a less pleasant location. Finally, the small playing pit is right next to the building where there are not only chairs but also a shelter in case of a harder wind or rain. The Accommodation Committee will arrange for the removal of the gravel and installation of a new layer of gravel at the earliest opportunity, resulting in a fast but undulating court (no pack of gravel so to speak).

November 2, 2024 - Day four of the National Pétanque Competition 2024-2025 was a fraught moment for both competition teams of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. P.U. Bois le Duc 1 played a regional derby against the first team of Ammerzoden-based Jeu de Boules assocation L’Ammerzo and P.U. Bois le Duc 2 went to visit the third team of Jeu de boules club Plop in Uden. Eyes were mainly on the second team from Den Bosch, this after a solid change in team composition.

“Every disadvantage has its advantage”, one of the late Johan Cruijff’s most famous sayings that also seems to apply to P.U. Bois le Duc 2, playing in the 5^th Division - Group 5002. After the departure of two team members and therefore required deployment of new players, the team straightened its back to immediately start its total of eight matches of the day with enthusiasm. As such, it immediately managed to win all three doubles matches (13-5, 13-10, 13-8) and recorded a 3-0 lead. Two more winning games were needed for the day’s win. In the second (triples) round, these were already achieved as there was another full win: 13-3 and 13-4. Intermediate score: 5-0. This made the third round, again in doubles form, a mere formality. With 7-13, 13-4 and 13-10 respectively, the final score eventually became 7-1 in favour of the players from ‘s-Hertogenbosch, who thus move up significantly in the intermediate rankings of group 5002.

P.U. Bois le Duc 2 in the hall of Jeu de Boules club Plop in Uden. Standing f.l.t.r.: Jan Arnold, Inge Boonzaaijer,

Johan de Koning, Marco Tijl and Elly Smit. Squatted f.l.t.r.: Gwenda Kok - Tijl and Theo van Wandelen.

In Ammerzoden, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 got off to a very difficult start against an extremely driven L’Ammerzo 1. Thus, partly due to mediocre play by the team from ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the home team managed to cash in on two out of three doubles matches in the first round. As a result, the company from ‘s-Hertogenbosch, slightly unexpectedly, looked at a justified 1-2 deficit. In the triples round, the players of P.U. Bois le Duc 1 managed to recover and won relatively convincingly twice: 13-9 and 13-2. Intermediate score: 3-2. In the decisive third and again doubles round, play was again very mixed. Nevertheless, the players from ‘s-Hertogenbosch drew the longest straw by winning two games (13-9, 13-4, 12-13) to take the day's victory with a 5-3 final score. As a result, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 remains unbeaten in the lead in group 5003.

On Saturday, November 16^th, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 will play off against PV Wij Liggen in Schijndel. P.U. Bois le Duc 2 is due out against PV Le Château in Wijchen.

October 19, 2024 - Day three of the National Pétanque Competition 2024-2025. On the indoor courts of Jeu de Boules association L’Ammerzo in Ammerzoden, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 convincingly knocked off Nijmegen-based De Valkatties 2 by 6-2 in the 5^th Division - Group 5003. This victory strengthened the team’s lead in the overall standings. Also in Ammerzoden but in the 5^th Division - Group 5002, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 competed against De Valkatties 1. It was exciting until the last game as winning the last doubles match would give a 5-3 win. Unfortunately, they lost narrowly (11-13) and a 4-4 draw turned out to be the highest achievable for the second team from ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

On Saturday, November 2^nd, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 will play again in Ammerzoden, then against L’Ammerzo 1. P.U. Bois le Duc 2 has to play Uden-based Jeu de Boules club Plop.

October 8, 2024 - The successful social programme ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ is already several months behind us. On the pétanque courts used for this programme, organisers Ruud van Noort and Jan Arnold put up beautiful scoreboards with a sticker bearing a QR code. That code led participants but also curious visitors to these pétanque courts to the ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ website. Now that the event is over, it was time to replace these stickers.

Chairman Antoon van Mil therefore sent an email message to Dibbes Belettering & meer in Rosmalen asking if they would sponsor the new stickers, this with the inclusion of their logo on them in return. Soon their very sporty response came back: not only did the company want to sponsor the four stickers but also a number for future use (40 in total). What an incredibly cool action. 😊

At the office of Dibbes Belettering & meer in Rosmalen last week, Ruud van Noort received the stack of stickers from the hands of Jenny van Zandbeek. Chairman Antoon van Mil set off with it today, - armed with benzene, kitchen roll and some hand tools -, to visit the four locations, strip the scoreboards of the old stickers and apply the new ones. The result is worth it as you can see from the photos.

The final result is quite something!

Dibbes Belettering & meer, thank you once again! 🥳

October 6, 2024 - Led by competition manager Liesbeth van Ooijen - van Rooijen, some twelve members of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc gathered at the association’s pétanque accommodation. Illuminated by a watery autumn sun they competed for the one-on-one championship (called ‘tête-à-tête’ in French). With the presence of former champion Dennis Pol (2022) and reigning champion Antoon van Mil (2023), some formidable opponents were present. Yet neither of them would be of any influence on the outcome.

The participants played in groups of four against each other once each (half competition), this as preliminary rounds on a knockout system. Only the numbers one and two of each group plus the two best numbers three would advance to the last eight. From then on, it was ‘do or die’ because if you lost, you were eliminated immediately.

To everyone’s surprise, Pol fell convincingly in the preliminaries. Earlier this year, Marco Tijl and his partner Gwenda Kok - Tijl became the doubles champions of P.U. Bois le Duc, now they were too strong individually for Pol, who therefore did not qualify for the final rounds.

Reigning club champion Antoon van Mil got off to a slow start. After a sporting loss in the first preliminary round against Theo van Wandelen, he picked up the pace and won twice, securing a place in the last eight. However, in the first final round, Van Mil faced one of the ‘best third places’, Ronald Crombeen. The latter seemed unleashed and played superbly and with 13-5 he outplayed Van Mil.

Theo van Wandelen lost once in the preliminary rounds to Elly Smit. Both players managed to qualify anyway and met again in the semi-finals. Here Van Wandelen left his opponent relatively unscathed by winning 13-3. Meanwhile, Crombeen had lost the other semi-final to Johan de Koning (4-13), making the final and consolation finals known.

Atmosphere impression of the final match. Left Theo van Wandelen and right Johan de Koning.

Elly Smit plays a boule during the consolation final, under the watchful eye of fellow finalist Ronald Crombeen.

It was clear that Van Wandelen, with all top players eliminated, was going for the main price. With tremendous focus, he started the match against De Koning who did not get out of the starting blocks. This resulted in a justified but flattering result: 13-0. This made Van Wandelen the third one-on-one champion of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. The consolation final was won, albeit narrowly, by Elly Smit with 13-12.

October 5, 2024 - Both teams of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc played their second match today in the 5^th Division of the National Pétanque Competition 2024-2025. Both P.U. Bois le Duc 1 and P.U. Bois le Duc 2 played ‘at home’ in the hall of JdB association L’Ammerzo in Ammerzoden. The competition, when temperatures are too low, has to be played indoors. Only with mutual consent and proper weather conditions can decided to play outside. Due to the lack of a hall of its own, Pétanque Union Bois le Duc diverts to Ammerzoden where, despite the reasonable autumn weather, indoor games were played.

P.U. Bois le Duc 1 did good business against PV Le Château 3 from Wijchen. With a well thought-out team line-up, the three doubles managed to secure full wins in the first round: 13-5, 13-4 and 13-0. This immediately gave the team a 3-0 lead. The second round, playing in triples form, featured one familiar and one new line-up. In this round too, a full win (13-8, 13-4) which secured the day’s win with a 5-0 score. In the third and also doubles round again two familiar and one untried line-up. There was a convincing win by the tried and tested teams (13-6, 13-5). The untried team clearly had to get used to each other and therefore did not yet play optimally and, coincidentally, just played against an apparently for them unleashed opponent. The loss was narrow (11-13) but a good learning experience. The reserve players along the side were, in consultation with the team, not deployed precisely to test the new team line-up. A very sporting/strong choice with the underlying aim of strengthening the team spirit and benefiting from this during the rest of the competition.

On the courts next to P.U. Bois le Duc 1, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 took on Pétanque Club Montferland 1 from Zeddam. In the first doubles round, the team managed to win two out of three games (7-13, 13-5, 13-10) and immediately took a modest lead: 2-1. In the subsequent triples round, they won one out of two games. Intermediate score: 3-2. So it was necessary to win at least twice in the final doubles round for the day’s victory. This unfortunately did not succeed, with 6-13, 8-13 and 13-8 a draw (4-4) was the highest achievable for P.U. Bois le Duc 2.

On Saturday, October 19^th P.U. Bois le Duc 1 will face De Valkatties 2 from Nijmegen in Ammerzoden. P.U. Bois le Duc 2 will also play there but against De Valkatties 1.

September 26, 2024 - For the second year in a row, Housing Corporation Zayaz organised a pétanque clinic for the residents of senioren complex De Commissaris in cooperation with the Sports & Recreation Department of the Municipality of ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. Goal: to connect the residents the complex through a low-threshold sport, in this case pétanque.

Together with Stephan de Laat (Zayaz) and Matti van den Elzen (S-PORT), Chairman Antoon van Mil taught the residents the intricacies of the game/sport on the court located in the courtyard of the senior complex. All this while enjoying snacks and drinks provided from the communal area of the complex. A full seating area had even been created for the occasion with large umbrellas that allowed people to stay cosy even after the sporting activities.

The organisers can look back on a successful event and the arrangements for 2025 are already in place. 😊

September 21, 2024 - The start of the National Petanque Competition 2024-2025 has been made with the first of a total of 14 home and away matches. The N.P.C. takes place in the autumn and winter months with games being played indoors in principle, which may be waived in good weather. Two teams from Pétanque Union Bois le Duc will compete in the 5^th Division. P.U. Bois le Duc 1 came in action away against Berlicum-based PV Mooie Boule. P.U. Bois le Duc 2 had to go to Wijchen to play against PV Le Château. With a temperature of over 24 degrees(!), both venues decided to play outside.

In Berlicum, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 had an extremely difficult start. In the first doubles round, the first team lost twice and immediately faced a 1-2 deficit (5-13, 13-3, 1-13). However, the subsequent triples round was won convincingly by 13-2 and 13-6 (3-2). With this double victory, the team did not relinquish its lead again. In the last and also doubles round, they won twice again (13-5, 13‑9, 11-13) making the final score 5-3 in favour of the team from ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

Standing f.l.t.r.: Liesbeth van Ooijen - van Rooijen, Hans van Woerkum, Edith Pol - Willemsen,

Robin Coolen and John Pol. Squatted: Antoon van Mil.

In Wijchen, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 did not get off to a good start. It lost by large numbers to its Wijchen opponent: 2-6.

On Saturday, October 5^th, both teams will be back in action. P.U. Bois le Duc 1 then plays at home (in Ammerzoden) against PV Le Château from Wijchen. P.U. Bois le Duc 2 will also play at home but against PC Montferland.

September 14, 2024 - The last ‘Bossche bollenmix’, organised in 2024 by Pétanque Union Bois le Duc and sponsored by Bakery Van Keulen, attracted 24 participants who, - over three rounds of matches ‘à la mêlée’ -, played with different fellow players as opponents each time for a chance to win delicious Bossche bollen (chocolade bulbs filled with whipped cream). This time, there were extra prices to be won as Zaltbommel-based Mavro International had provided five goodie packages. So a place among the top fifteen was enough not to go home empty-handed. 😊

The winners of the additional prices.

F.l.t.r.: Ronald Crombeen, Elly Smit, Ton van der Vorst, Paul Lucas and Paul Meisen.

After the last match, the balance could be taken. Leading the top three was Louise van Driel, she managed to win three matches with 25 points. The top two was remarkable, consisting entirely of ‘Jossen’. Namely, second was Jos van de Water with three wins, 27 points. First was Jos Franssen with also three wins with no less than 35 points. Chairman and tournament organiser Antoon van Mil therefore spontaneously renamed the event from ‘Bossche bollenmix’ to ‘Jossen bollenmix’. 😛

Top 10 price winners with ‘Bossche bollen’ won. Standing f.l.t.r.: Jan van Bergen, Jos Franssen,

Richard Winters, Anita Winters - Smulders, Liesbeth van Ooijen - van Rooijen, Louise van Driel and Harm Schilders.

Squatted f.l.t.r.: Ruud van Noort, Jos van de Water and Tessa van Broekhoven.

September 13, 2024 - It literally took some doing, but today the electricity installation of the Kanteel Childcare container was successfully connected to the club building of s.v. C.H.C., via the loop of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. For this reason, Chairman Antoon van Mil was present early this morning to supervise the work, the aim being to prevent the recently repaired drainage from being hit during the necessary excavation work. However, mini excavator operator Michael van Oosterhout knew exactly what he was doing: with surgical precision, he removed the soil and the ring main was exposed.

Afterwards, electrician Pieter Greving (Maréchal Elektro) was able to pull the electrical cable and provide the finishing touches. To top it off, he installed a double socket in the corner above the sink, by way of sponsorship from owner of the electrical company Rob Maréchal. Maréchal Elektro, thank you! 🥳

September 11, 2024 - For over a year now, eight concrete benches have been standing along the courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. Touched by rain and wind, these give off a layer of dust and create grey stains on the clothes of the pétanque players. So something had to be done about that!!!

Looking for the right expertise, our Chairman Antoon van Mil ended up with Björn van Zandvoort, Commercial Technical Advisor at Zaltbommel-based Mavro International. This company supplies various products such as anti-graffiti coatings, cleaners and protective products. Hence their name: Materialen Voor Renovatie en Onderhoud (read: materials for renovation and maintenance). As the company propagates on its website, it is committed to society. It therefore immediately felt called upon to solve our association's problem, completely selflessly.

A few weeks earlier, Mavro International delivered, as a test, a first liter bottle of Floorguard Fluor. This product not only makes the surface long-term water repellent but also has a strong grease and dirt repellent effect. Exactly what was needed for the concrete benches proved immediately after the first test on some benches. Three more bottles of the product are needed to treat the rest of the benches, which Chairman Antoon van Mil received today from Bjorn van Zandvoort at the Zaltbommel office.

Björn van Zandvoort (left) and Antoon van Mil (right) during the handover

of the bottles of Floorguard Fluor and the goodie packages.

To top it all off, Mavro International also donated five goodie packages including a pair of Mavro sunglasses as additional prizes for the ‘Bossche bollenmix’ on Saturday 14 September next. Mavro International, thank you very much! 🥳

September 8, 2024 - The last ‘Bossche doubles’ of 2024 had a surprising course of play but one that captured everyone’s imagination. Not all ‘cracks’ present made it to the final of the A tournament, but dad Brian Schampers and his 7-year-old son Bram did (both members of the Cuijk Jeu de Boules association Amicale). As if there were no worries in the world, the little man, strongly coached by his father, played the proverbial stars from heaven. The cooperation but especially the love between father and son resulted in a great performance, one that made the achievements of the other fifteen teams pale into insignificance. In the end, they found their Waterloo in the final of the A tournament against the rock-solid doubles team Osman Jibril/Son Cao. They proved a few sizes too big, losing by 0‑13. This did not spoil the fun for little Bram who, literally as happy as a child, received an envelope with money! 😊

F.l.t.r.: Son Cao, Bram van Moorsel, Brian Schampers and Osman Jibril.

September 6, 2024 - For the third year in a row, a large number of Van Wijnen employees (>40) headed to the courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. Their annual boules outing has meanwhile become a real thing within the company, which is evident from the stories in the office in the run‑up to the event, but especially from the sporting venom with which people then attack each other with the boules (fortunately not literally!). By now, the laughter of the first year has worn off: “Hahaha, pétanque: is that a sport?” has been replaced by “We’re going to win!”.

Bob van de Loo, winner in 2023, was lauded by chairman Antoon van Mil at the opening of the sporting event to give him some extra sporting pressure. After all, Bob had to perform because his title was at stake. Strengthened by the Chairman’s words of praise but weakened by new and therefore very slippery boules, Bob won the first game only narrowly: 13‑10. This immediately resulted in a downgrading which, due to a direct loss in the second game (9‑13), he would not overcome. A new champion was therefore in the making.

Bob van de Loo (3^rd from the left) during his first match.

With only five months of work experience at Van Wijnen, Britney van Stokhem came onto the courts as green as grass but seemingly dead serious. Possibly inspired by the fanaticism and mutual envy of her colleagues, she felt she had something to gain. With a stoic look, she therefore won all three of her matches: 13‑12, 13‑7 and 13‑3. A handsome performance that was only matched by Rutger Gabriëls who, like Britney, managed to win three matches and with the same number of balance points (17). A one-to-one match to five points between the two contestants was therefore decisive as to who would become the new champion.

The ‘stare down’ betweem Rutger Gabriëls and Britney van Stokhem.

After a so-called ‘stare down’ between Rutger and Britney, in which only Britney managed not to smile for a split-second, the all-decisive final began. Britney knew what she was doing and immediately gave Rutger, - who ran away with the overall victory in the first year of the corporate event -, no chance by quickly taking a 3‑0 lead. Despite Rutger still coming alongside (3‑3), Britney kept her cool and decided the match by cashing in two points: 5‑3. The new champion could be crowned! 🥳 From the hands of Antoon van Mil she received a wooden box, bearing the Van Wijnen company logo, containing six shiny boules. along with a jack and a pin, both with the logo of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc.

September 4, 2024 - Currently, Omroep Brabant is busy compiling the Top 900, based on voting lists filled in by its listeners. To draw extra attention to the musical event, a team from the North Brabant broadcaster will cycle through the province and visit local initiatives. This included the team visiting the pétanque courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc.

A brief report written by Treasurer Ruud van Noort.

“John van Vroenhoven and his team ride a promo cargo bike through North Brabant. They are promoting voting for Omroep Brabant’s annual Top 900 to be broadcast September 22-23. Before John reported to our association at about 2:30 AM on September 4^th, he had already cycled quite a distance. John will report ‘Live’ on the radio while driving the cargo bike. He will be followed by a livestream camerawoman and another colleague will take photo shots for social media.

I gave John a short briefing and introduced him to the members present. Around 2:55 AM, we went ‘Live’ on air and listeners had a brief impression of our association. John played a match along with us (and we let him win 😉). We said goodbye with a tip for the staff association of Omroep Brabant: organise a company outing at our association.

The promotion team still had to continue with the cargo bike all the way to Hedel: good luck and see you soon!”

Ruud van Noort was also interviewed. Click here to listen to the interview.

To find out more about Omroep Brabant’s Top 900, click on the image below.

August 28, 2024 - It was a downright stress test for the volunteers of our association, the corporate party of L - founders of loyalty. Indeed, it was the first time such a large group had been facilitated at our accommodation. Some 70 people enjoyed the game, each other’s company and finally the barbecue provided by Hans and Rini van Woerkum. Here they were actively supported by association members Marco Tijl and Jan Arnold. The bar was looked after by association elder Diny Buise van Roosmalen and Secretary Corrie van Mil - de Looijer. Chairman Antoon van Mil was, as always, the ‘flying goalkeeper’ of it all. The fact that many hands make light work was evident, because earlier in the afternoon a number of other members came together to lend a helping hand, such as setting up the small marquee and preparing the game materials. Without mentioning them further by name, we are also very grateful to them! 😊

It was a very successful but above all educational event and the company has indicated that they will come again next year. That's a nice promise! 😉

August 27, 2024 - There are companies that ‘sponsor for the sake of sponsoring’, which is of course great because without their support many an association would be lost! But you also have companies, like Wellseind-based KeukenCentrum Vosseling, that go the extra mile and think along with what exactly is needed. For example, Rini van Woerkum (General Board member) asked for a fridge to be used during barbecues at our venue. No sooner said than done and so Chairman Antoon van Mil went to war to ask his brother-in-law and owner of the kitchen centre Dennis van Hulten for a second-hand fridge (returned from a project). Dennis not only had a nice 1.78-metre-high fridge but he also finished it off nicely by screwing wheels under it to facilitate transport. That's what's called service and exactly why you're in the right place at KeukenCentrum Vosseling! 😊

F.l.t.r.: General Board Member Rini van Woerkum, association member Kevin Lankes and

director Dennis van Hulten during the warm transfer of the fridge.

Wellseindsestraat 9 | 5325 KH Wellseind (Gld.) | The Netherlands

T: +31 (0)418 - 552 404 | E: kc@vosseling.nl | I: www.vosseling.nl

August 20, 2024 - A modest turnout this time during the second to last ‘Bossche bollenmix’ of this year. However, this was not to spoil the fun as the twenty participants enjoyed the game and especially each other’s company. That only half of the participants stood a chance of winning the prizes did not detract from this. For the top ten there were delicious Bossche bollen (read: chocolate bulbs filled with whipped cream) to be won, as always selflessly sponsored by Bakery Van Keulen.

Once again, Jan van Bergen managed to win the mix tournament (3 wins, 30 points). He was closely followed by Chairman Antoon van Mil (3 wins, 24 points) who, due to an uneven number of participants, took part himself for the first time in a long time and immediately fell in with the proverbial nose in the butter. Last of the top three was Henri Pachen (3 wins, 13 points).

The price winners of the ‘Bossche bollen mix’. Standing f.l.t.r.: Henk van Helvoirt, Jan Lansdaal,

Corrie van Mil - de Looijer, Jan van Bergen, Marco Tijl (somewhat hidden), Theo van Wandelen, Henri Pachen,

Johan de Koning and Frans van Wijnen. Squatted in the foreground: Chairman Antoon van Mil.

The next ‘Bossche bollenmix’ will take place on Saturday, September 14^th. Individual participation is possible, registration on site and there are plenty of boules to borrow.

July 26, 2024 - In the smoke of steaming charcoal, 29 participants gathered to join the barbecue after a few short pétanque matches. Rini van Woerkum, the driving force behind the ‘Stay at home tournament’, together with brother Hans, once again prepared a delicious buffet that was enjoyed not only by the members of the Pétanque Union Bois le Duc but also by their guests. The whole event was again prepared to perfection and in addition to a rich selection of meat, there was also a wide choice of delicious homemade salads. A detailed photo report of the event can be found in the ‘Pictures’ section.

Rini van Woerkum (l) and brother Hans act as true photo models

for the association’s yet-to-be-developed promotional material.

That many hands make light work was evident at the end of the evening when several attendees rolled up their sleeves to clean up. Thanks to them but especially to Hans and Rini for their wonderful work! 🥳

July 20, 2024 - Bossche bollen (read: chocolate bulbs filled with whipped cream) and a temperature of over 30 degrees Celsius: not exactly a logical combination. Fortunately, the cooler in the canteen of s.v. C.H.C. offered a solution, as did the recently installed terrace roof. Under it, the sixteen participants could enjoy the shade and a light cooling breeze between matches. That there was still such a fine number of participants with such a high temperature greatly surprised the organisers of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc.

Over three mixed matches, in which one always had different fellow players as opponents, they had to decide who would take home the highest number of Bossche bollen sponsored by Bakery Van Keulen. These could be won by the best ten players.

Henk van Helvoirt convincingly finished in first place, winning three games with no fewer than 25 points. A great second place went to club mascot Riet Heijmans - Verharen. She too managed to win three games with 18 points, finishing just one point ahead of Ton van der Vorst, who came in third.

The price winners of the ‘Bossche bollen mix’. Standing f.l.t.r.: Ton van der Vorst, Riet Heijmans - Verharen,

Johan de Koning, Henk van Helvoirt, Alwin Narain, Jan van Bergen, Elly Smits and Marco Tijl.

Squatted f.l.t.r.: Frans van Wijnen en Hidde de Roij.

The next ‘Bossche bollenmix’ will take place on Saturday, August 24^th. Individual participation is possible, registration on site and there are plenty of boules to borrow.

July 18, 2024 - External consultants are expected to get things rolling (again) as soon as they set foot in somewhere. That certainly applies to the consultants at Hoevelaken based Cadran Consultancy. With over 25 years of implementation experience, providing support on and hosting ERP systems at wholesale, manufacturing and commodity trading companies, it knows better than anyone how to achieve this. Take a look at www.cadran.nl to see what Cadran Consultancy can do for your organisation.

Today, however, ‘getting things rolling’ was taken very literally as Cadran Consultancy employees stepped up to play a little pétanque competition, with a healthy sense of mutual competitive spirit. All this on the beautiful courts of Jeu de Boules club De Hakhorst in Leusden. Over three mixed matches, with ever-changing fellow players and opponents, it was determined who actually ‘gets things rolling’. All this, of course, under the Burgundian pleasure of a snack and a drink, excellently provided by the volunteers of De Hakhorst.

After three games, Geert Siksma was able to receive the first prize from the hands of Chairman Ad Kooijman of Jeu de Boules club De Hakhorst: a nice set of boules from OBUT. He managed to win 3 matches with 25 points. An honourable second place went to Jeroen van der Scheer with 2 wins and 13 points, closely followed by Jasper Sassen who completed the top three with 2 wins and 11 points.

The participants of Cadran Consultancy. In the middle Geert Siksma: he demonstratively holds ‘Fanny’ as he

had just won the 2^nd round 13-0 and his opponents had to kiss the statue as a result.

July 14, 2024 - Six teams competed for the 2024 doubles championship of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. By means of a half competition, in which each team had to play all other teams once, it was decided who would run away with the title. Immediately after the first round, one doubles team dropped out, leaving the remaining five teams with one less opponent but also one more victory (13-0). Of the remaining teams, incidentally, no team managed to win all its matches: the entire top three lost one.

The doubles team Marco Tijl and Gwenda Kok - Tijl convincingly finished first with four wins and no less than 36 points. A rock-solid performance given the opposition and the club’s recently very difficult playing field. Incidentally, they only lost to reigning champion Ruud van Hintum who, together with Niek Buskop, tried to prolong the titles won in 2022 and 2023 together with Dennis Pol. They managed to win 4 matches but gained only 21 points in the process, taking third place. There was a handsome second place for Jan Arnold with teammate Corrie Van Mil - de Looijer: 4 wins and 29 points.

June 30, 2024 - Press release.

‘BOULES IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD’:

A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMME OF ‘BOSSCH SPORTS AGREEMENT II’

It was the apotheosis of four consecutive weeks of jeu de boules, in four different neighbourhoods within the municipal boundaries of ‘s-Hertogenbosch: the concluding ‘Boules Day’ on the courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc at De Fuik in Den Bosch - West. The social programme ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood', - which underpinned this closing day -, aimed to bring people into contact with each other, fight loneliness and get (especially) elderly people to move more through a low-threshold game. Under the guidance of the impact makers of social events agency More2Win from ‘s-Hertogenbosch, organisers Ruud van Noort and Jan Arnold managed to bring together the local residents of the respective neighbourhoods of ‘s-Hertogenbosch for no less than sixteen afternoons and evenings. They did all this with the help of a number of fellow association members of P.U. Bois le Duc. They worked in tightly organised shifts to supervise the games and familiarise the participants with the game/sport ‘pétanque’ (the official name for ‘jeu de boules’) and, much more importantly, with each other!

On the ‘Boules Day’, the participants from the various neighbourhoods came together for the last time to play three mixed matches, together with the association members of P.U. Bois le Duc. Of course, it was not surprising that the entire top three of the final ranking consisted of experienced boulers as a result. However, they were thanked for their sporting zeal as the three prices (bunches of flowers) were destined for the best three neighbourhood players. André Everaas, Frans Wenting and Diny Maton gratefully accepted them. Salient detail: the latter was present at Sportpark De Schutskamp for the choir day (her daughter sang along) and decided on the spot to participate ad hoc.

The price winners of the concluding ‘Boules Day’ together with the organisers.

The social programme ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ is a follow-up to the ‘Bossche Boules’ organised in 2021 and the ‘Brabant Boules’ held in 2022 around the European Pétanque Championships. These programmes had a similar aim to ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ and, like ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’, could count on the support of many social partners. For instance, the Sports & Recreation Department (S-PORT) of the Municipality of ‘s-Hertogenbosch was intensively involved in not only the realisation of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ but also its financial support through the ‘Bossch Sports Agreement II’.

Whether there will be a sequel to ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ in 2025 is not yet known but if it is up to the organisers and the board of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc it certainly will be.

All photos and results of the concluding ‘Boules Day’ can be found at www.puboisleduc.nl.

Open pétanque tournament

Pétanque Union Bois le Duc does not stand still and the next public event is already in the pipeline. On Saturday, July 20^th the ‘Bossche bollenmix’, an à la mêlée tournament (mix) in which individuals can participate, will take place. A playing licence is not required, anyone can participate. Three matches are played with different opponents each time. Boules are plentiful and, above all, free to borrow. The best ten participants will receive delicious Bossche bollen (chocolate balls filled with whipped cream), selflessly sponsored by Bakery Van Keulen. The entry fee is € 3,- and registration is possible on site from 10:30 AM. At 11:00 AM, the first match will start. Location: P.U. Bois le Duc, De Fuik 10, 's-Hertogenbosch.

Getting acquainted with the game/sport?

Would you like to play boules and get to know P.U. Bois le Duc? Then come along on one of the club's regular opening days, including Wednesday afternoons since April this year. For more information: check the P.U. Bois le Duc website or call Antoon van Mil, Chairman on +31 (0)6 1353 1310.

June 28, 2024 - After four intensive weeks in which the Court Coaches, organisers Ruud van Noort/Jan Arnold and More2Win toppers Anke Collart - Kerkhofs and Siem Verbruggen did their very best and went to extremes to make sure everything went as smoothly as possible, today the last sports meeting was organised on the pétanque court on the Van Leeuwenhoekstraat (Boschveld).

The temperature was considerably lower than the previous day but the heat on the court was no less! With great fun and charity, pleasant and above all friendly matches were played again. What a great finish at this venue too! 😊

The final ‘Boules Day’ will take place on Sunday, June 30^th next, on the courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc at De Fuik 10. Individual participation is possible and anyone may take part. Participation is free of charge and there are plenty of boules available. Will you participate? 😊

June 27, 2024 - The last morning of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ on a summery pétanque court on the Baksvelstraat in Deuteren. A fresh wind was blowing which, combined with the shade of the trees, ensured that there was still some cooling. Court Coaches Diny Buise - van Roosmalen and Paul Meisen were again pleasantly assisted by fellow association members Ruud van Noort, Emiel Bootsma, Annelies van der Zanden and Jan Arnold.

At the start, neighbourhood resident Joop was already there and the game could start immediately. Fifteen minutes later, the aforementioned volunteers taking part in the game had already been replaced by even more local residents (some of whom had participated before). Three games were then played in varying compositions.

Between the games, Annelies van der Zanden again provided the coffee/tea with delicious biscuits. The perfect time to also fill in the surveys to get an impression of how the participants experienced ‘Boules in je Buurt’.

There was also a ‘high visitor’, a lady from the Sports & Recreation Department of the Municipality of ‘s‑Hertogenbosch whose name has been forgotten. She came by and took some photos, this of course after permission from all present.

It seems that more arrangements will be made in the future to play on this court. Here, arranging boules will be the biggest challenge.

All in all, this was another very successful morning with very enthusiastic participants, some of whom we hope to see back on our association courts. 😊

Do you want to participate?

Tomorrow is the last day of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’, on the pétanque court on the Van Leeuwenhoekstraat (Boschveld). Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the playing location.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 25, 2024 - The 4^th and final day of play of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ on the Vincent van Goghlaan (South Hintham) was played under a full sun. Once again, the members of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc gave a good account of themselves, - to put it in GCF (General Civilised French) -, welcoming the participants as always with a broad smile.

A number of spectators from the Court of Hintham were also present. A few of them could be persuaded to play along and they did so together with the group of asylum seekers from ASC De Pettelaar who were present again. They were nice and sporting encounters in which the asylum seekers clearly illustrated their ball skills (natural talents). The latter group has promised to be present at the concluding boules day on Sunday, June 30^th as well: nice! 🥳

Slowly the temperature rose towards 30 degrees Celsius and it was Anke Collart - Kerkhofs -, Impactmaker at social events agency More2Win from ‘s-Hertogenbosch -, who provided some cooling by handing out ice creams. These were gratefully received! 🍦

Play continued until 3:00 PM, the time when ‘regular visitors’ took over the court. Naturally, this group is also invited to the closing boules day. Whether they will come? We’ll see ... 😊

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 24, 2024 - The last day of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ on the pétanque court on the Antoon der Kinderenlaan (De Vliert), that under a bright blue sky with temperatures well into the 20 degrees Celsius. 🌞 The photos, courtesy of the photographers, therefore speak for themselves.

A large representation of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc was present including ‘ball boy’ Paul Meisen and media/coffee girl Annelies van der Zanden. Paul van den Broek acted as arbiter for the occasion and took some precision measurements to determine which boules were on point. That this was at the expense of his knees he took for granted.

All in all, it was a great end to the Antoon der Kinderenlaan with four guests who may offer potential for our association! 😊

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 23, 2024 - A tournament does not have to be great because of a high number of participants. It is the atmosphere and the type of participants that determine the success of a good boules tournament. No nagging players who, despite the beautiful weather, try to sprinkle some salt on open wounds (read: complaining about things not going well) because it is in their nature or because they have lost, but people who just genuinely want to have fun together, even during a fierce but sporting match. That is the core of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc’s events: having fun together! And we do, even if it is with only twelve teams. And, unlike other clubs: with us, a tournament with few teams WILL go ahead! 🙂

After three preliminary rounds in time, the twelve teams were divided into an A and B tournament. Due to the number of teams, a cadrage round had to be played first after the preliminary rounds (up to 11 points), this to go from six to four teams per tournament. After five matches, it was time for the sixth and decisive final matches.

In the A tournament, it was between the doubles team Osman Jibril (PV Tilburg, Tilburg)/Xander Steijns (PV La Donnée, Tilburg) and the doubles team Cas Schellekens (JdB club ‘t Dupke, Sint‑Michielsgestel)/Trieu Nguyen (JdB association Va-Tout, Breda). Both teams know each other through and through so there was no match pressure. The result, 13-0 in favour of the doublet Jibril/Steijns, was convincing but at the same time a reflection of amicability: two friendly teams who just wanted to play a fun final match.

In the B tournament it was equally convivial but there there was a real sporting battle as there were two teams facing each other who had ‘nothing in common’ so to speak: the doubles team Hans van Woerkum (P.U. Bois le Duc)/Anita Winter - Smulders (JbC club Plop, Uden) versus Jan Mannaerts/Eddy Querts (Inter Lommel Petanque). There, after an exciting and exhilarating match, the final victory went to the former team (13-9).

The price winners of the ‘Bossche doubles’. Standing f.l.t.r.: Hans van Woerkum, Anita Winter - Smulders,

Osman Jibril, Eddy Querts and Jan Mannaerts. Squatted f.l.t.r.: Cas Schellekens, Xanders Steijns and Trieu Nguyen.

On Wednesday evening July 3^rd, the next edition of ‘Bossche summer night games’ will take place. Registration can be done via OnTip.

The next ‘Bossche doubles’ will take place on Sunday, July 21^st. Again, register via OnTip.

June 21, 2024 - A report by Inge Boonzaaijer, Court Coach ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’.

THE ADVENTURES ON THE VAN LEEUWENHOEKSTRAAT

First week BiyN; 8 people, second week BiyN; 5 people ... if we were to extend the statistics, Elly & Inge would play in pairs in the third week. Should no one else turn up, plan A was already in place; the coaches would force the boules deliverer (read: Ruud van Noort), under duress, to stay. And pull Petra out of the community building and provide her with some boules. It was really thought through because there was even a plan B; ringing the doorbell in the neighbourhood ... NOT a proper plan and certainly not when Mr Koeman and consorts are also doing something with a ball.

Elly, Ruud, Inge and some rain were present ... it was starting to clear up ... and what was our surprise? Completely out of the blue, Alfred from the neighbourhood newspaper arrives on his bicycle to report on ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’. Too bad for Alfred but we had other plans for him as we were missing a 4^th person. Well, he did want to try throwing a ball. “This is the 1^st time I am throwing, I have never done this before,” Alfred already had his cries ready but it was not evident from his throws as his style is above the average starter.

Okay, time for the rain as it had been dry for too long and we also wanted to have a coffee with Petra. Coffee and a chit chat with Petra ... Long story in a nutshell; Petra also wanted to throw a ball. Okeeeeeeeeeeeee then, the neighbourhood building was locked, granddaughter Noé in coat and boots lashing; grandma Petra is going to throw ... and not entirely without merit!!! Petra - Elly against Alfred - Inge. Noé was deployed as (4-year-old!!!) jack thrower.

Neighbour Shane came home, we also managed to snare him for a few throws. Inge gladly ceded her spot to Shane because then she could take shelter from the rain.

All in all, a very good and enjoyable evening on the Van Leeuwenhoekstraat. Petra, Alfred and Shane were visibly having fun and we will definitely see them back next week.

Around 9:00 PM, some orange jitters did surface and ... partly thanks to Mr Koeman ... we threw down the boules. With a ‘definitely until next time’ we said goodbye to the Van Leeuwenhoekstraat.

HAPPY WEEKEND ALL!!!

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 20, 2024 - Diny Buise - van Roosmalen, our association elder of whom we are immensely proud but, above all, careful. Not because she can play so incredibly well but because she is there with so much pleasure and human interest. She is a treasure! 😊

We always tease Diny with equal love, especially when she has told us for weeks in a row that she has made meatballs. Invariably, people asked, "Diny, where are those meatballs for us?" Well, she understood that because Diny prepared delicious snacks in the airfryer at home, which she came to hand out at the club a little later. Diny, thanks a lot! 🥳

June 20, 2024 - For third time, ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ was on the pétanque court on the Baksvelstraat in Deuteren. This time an entertaining report, written by Paul Meisen.

“At 9:45 AM, Diny, Paul and our trusty ball courier Ruud were present and the three of us started playing a game beforehand. Around 10:15 AM, nine local residents had joined from all sides and the neighbourhood coaches withdrew from the game to make way for these enthusiasts. Meanwhile, Diny had also en passant cleared the court of various crown corks with her magnetic ball scraper, a true hospitality tigress! Meanwhile, Annelies, Emiel and Jan had also joined in for support, so a second grass court was put into use alongside the official one. So there was fun playing on two courts.

However, the Deuteren community centre still looked dark and closed, and Annelies showed her unexpected qualities (besides being a ballplayer and PR worker) and managed to find a key nearby. Fifteen minutes later, the coffee and tea trolley was driven out and we had a cosy break together and had coffee and tea with a nice biscuit (thank you Diny).

After the break, another game was played on both courts and around 12:00 PM, this meeting was concluded with satisfaction by the participants promising to be present again next week.”

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 19, 2024 - It’s in the name of the tournament it seems: ‘Bossche summer night games’. After days of rain and drizzling weather, it was suddenly another day and evening of sunny weather. As if it had to be that way because two weeks earlier, the tournament also could be played in the full evening sun. Like the previous edition of the tournament, the three pre-selected matches were not played on time, contrary to the flyer. Playing on time was totally unnecessary given the number of participants (14 doubles).

Despite the recreational content of the ‘Bossche summer night games’, a large group of top Dutch players (to be admired in the photo report) flocked to the Bossche pétanque courts.  This resulted in surprisingly fine matches but also in a very long final third game that looked a bit like the final of a major tournament: Guus Vonck/Frea Vonck - Schippers versus Dennis Mul/Patrick de Koning (11-13). 😊

By 11:00 PM the final score could be made up. With three wins and 27 points, Sibolt Lups and Jac van Beek (JdB club Plop, Uden) could crown themselves tournament winners. With three wins and 17 points, Dennis Mul (JdB association De Walnoot, Boxtel) and Patrick De Koning (PV Jeu de Bommel, Zaltbommel) finished in 2nd place. Leading the top three: Guus Vonck (PC De Gooiers, Hilversum) and Frea Vonck - Schipper (CdP Les Cailloux, Zeist) with 2 wins and 18 points. The fourth prize was for Tycho Bayens (JdB association De Walnoot, Boxtel) and Michelle de Blij (PV Jeu de Bommel, Zaltbommel) with also 2 wins and 18 points, this based on the result of the first match.

The price winners of the ‘Bossch summer night games’. Standing f.l.t.r.: Dennis Mul, Patrick de Koning,

Sibult Lups and Jac van Beek. Squatted f.l.t.r.: Guus Vonck and Frea Vonck - Schipper.

On Wednesday evening July 3^rd, the next edition of ‘Bossche summer night games’ will take place. Registration can be done via OnTip.

The next ‘Bossche doubles’ will take place on Sunday, June 23^rd. Again, register via OnTip.

June 18, 2024 - “It looked a lot like water polo today,” said Ruud van Noort, co-organiser of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ and present as a supervisor at the boules court on Vincent van Goghlaan in South Hintham. Together with Elly Smit and Joke van Gulik, he accompanied a group of young and very enthusiastic asylum seekers from ASC De Pettelaar. The game afternoon also attracted the attention of the local media, including a reporter and a photographer from the Brabants Dagblad (you can find the article here).

Afterwards, inside where it was warm and dry, they enjoyed a nice drink together. “It was successful again,” was Van Noort’s conclusion. 😊

Association member Joke van Gulik poses like a real photo model.

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 17, 2024 - Last week, the second day of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ on the pétanque court on the Antoon der Kinderenlaan (De Vliert) was literally submerged by heavy rainfall. Fortunately, this week it was dry and, again under the supervision of a number of association members of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc, the game could be enjoyed. A somewhat larger group of players was present and so the game was also played on the gravel path near the flat. Just a slightly more difficult playing area but the fun was certainly no less. 😊

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 15, 2024 - It looked a bit precarious at the start of the ‘Bossche bollen mix’ sponsored by Bakery Van Keulen: a strong and cold wind with quite a few dark clouds and very light drizzle. Yet the weather woes spared the nineteen participants in the mix tournament, led by Chairman Antoon van Mil. Occasionally, the sun even appeared. Despite the somewhat moderate turnout due to the ailing weather, the atmosphere was no less. Over three matches, in which one always had different fellow players as opponents, there was a sporting battle for the highest honour. After the last round, the final score was announced. Marco Tijl, member of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc, was the only one to win all three matches with a balance of thirteen points. With two matches won by eleven points, second place went to Frans van Wijnen. Corrie van Mil - de Looijer closed the top three with two wins and seven points.

The price winners of the ‘Bossche bollen mix’. Standing f.l.t.r.: Corrie van Mil - de Looijer,

Theo van Wandelen, Frans van Wijnen, Marco Tijl, Gwenda Kok - Tijl, Jan van Bergen and Emiel Bootsma.

Squatted f.l.t.r.: Hans van Woerkum, Tessa van Broekhoven and Ronald Crombeen.

The next ‘Bossche bollenmix’ will take place on Saturday, July 20^th. Individual participation is possible, registration on site and there are plenty of boules to borrow.

June 14, 2024 - Well, the Media Coordinator of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc can’t beat this kind of fine reporting. With thanks to co-conductor Inge Boonzaaijer the following report on ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’, from the pétanque court on the Van Leeuwenhoekstraat (Boschveld).

“One writes Friday evening June 14th 2024, 7:00 PM: Elly & Inge are present at the neighbourhood pétanque location Van Leeuwenhoekstraat. Not much later Ruud & Margriet follow with the necessary balls. Yessssss ... 4 people, so 1 game is in the cards anyway. The toss had not yet taken place when Margareth arrived on her bike. Putting the teams together: Ruud with Margareth, Margriet with Inge, Elly as umpire. The mega victory was for team Ruud/Margareth. Around 8:00 PM, the rain radar had taken it into its head to make it rain ... and so it did ... Time for a cup of coffee at Petra’s place in the community centre. After a chat with Petra, we now also know when we can go to bingo, yoga or billiards in the community centre. Around 8:45 PM it was dry but there were no queues of people waiting for the neighbourhood coaches so we knitted an end to it ... Happy weekend all!!!"

By the way, the interview made by DTV News yesterday can be found here.

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 13, 2024 - Week two, game day three of the social programme ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’. For the second time, the pétanque court on the Baksvelstraat in Deuteren was visited. Under a relatively clear blue sky, a group of interested people -, under the expert guidance of Annelies van der Zanden, Johan de Koning and Ruud van Noort -, played a number of games. A real coffee corner was set up next to the court, equipped with tables and chairs. Plenty of time but also opportunity to have a nice chat: the aim of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’. 😊

On site, Annelies van der Zanden revealed herself as a true PR lady by speaking to DTV Nieuws, the local radio and television station that had come down to the Deuteren district of Den Bosch especially for this occasion. We will see the result of her ‘promotional talk’ on www.dtvnieuws.nl tomorrow.

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 11, 2024 - How little it takes to create a convivial moment. A pétanque court, some boules and a few unbridled energetic association members, supplemented by a number of local interested parties, once again made the second afternoon at the ‘Boules in je Buurt’ location on the Vincent van Goghlaan (South Hintham) a sporting success.

Elly Smit, Joke van Gulik and Theo van Wandelen, - association members of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc ‑, taught the participants the intricacies of the sport/game ‘pétanque’. The reaction of one of the facilitators after the afternoon therefore spoke volumes: “It was fun again!” 😊

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 10, 2024 - As if there hadn’t been enough rain yet … ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ almost literally fell into the water today. Enthusiastic and club member Paul van den Broek, however, as a true host, was nevertheless present at the location on the Antoon der Kinderenlaan (De Vliert) to receive any ‘customers’. His photos sent via WhatsApp (including comments) say it all. 😐

‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ will continue on Tuesday, June 11^th 2024, then again on the pétanque court on the Vincent van Goghlaan (South Hintham).

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 9, 2024 - As the first ever player from Pétanque Union Bois le Duc, Edith Pol ‑ Willemsen entered the final day of the 2024 Women’s National Triples Championship. However, her day’s play was very short-lived because, - together with teammates Jenny den Baas and Noëlle Viguurs -, she already fell in the first final round 5‑13 against the triples team consisting of Elise Nuijten, Matilda Boström and Kim van Gellekom. The latter team steamed through to the final in which it lost 6‑13 to the triples team of Josefien Koogje, Katy Kamps - Bosch and Sandy Rikkers, the new Dutch women's champions.

June 9, 2024 - At the last board meeting, it was unanimously agreed to ‘sprinkle’ coarse gravel on the small playing area (courts 1 to 5). This will make playing a boule rolling a little bit more difficult. This will still be possible on the large playing area (lanes 6 to 16): there the gravel layer will remain the same for the time being.

Led by Chairman Antoon van Mil, association members Johan de Koning and Stefan Houkes lovingly brought the coarser gravel onto the courts. Then it was the honour of Accommodation Committee member Johan de Koning to apply ‘the finishing touch’ using the dragnet.

June 8, 2024 - On the first day of the Dutch Triples Championship 2024 on the courts of Jeu de Boules club ‘t Dupke in Sint‑Michielsgestel, the triplet of our club member Edith Pol ‑ Willemsen showed her best side. Together with teammates Jenny den Baas and Noëlle Viguurs, Edith managed to qualify for the final day of the championship on Sunday, June 9^th (also in Sint‑Michielsgestel). Go ladies! 😊

June 7, 2024 - The first of a total of four weeks of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ is over. On the fourth day of play, the pétanque court on Van Leeuwenhoekstraat (Boschveld) was visited. Elly Smit, Ruud van Noort and Linda Peeters (S‑PORT) were on site to guide the interested parties and provide them with ‘tips & tricks’. The reactions of those present certainly made the joint effort worthwhile as people experienced the whole thing as a very pleasant and fun evening. 😊

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 6, 2024 - We live in a democratic country. A country in which we can and may be ourselves, almost without restrictions. An inclusive society, something to which Pétanque Union Bois le Duc likes to contribute and so do its association members. With Treasurer Ruud van Noort leading the way, association members Mieke Lakwijk and Piet Ronnes helped count the votes for the European Parliament elections. They did so at polling station 302 in Supper Center De Westhoek (Van Leeuwenhoekstraat 2). As thanks for their selfless efforts, our association can count on a small financial contribution from the Municipality of ‘s Hertogenbosch. Thank you for your efforts! 😊

June 6, 2024 - Day three of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ saw a visit to the pétanque court on the Baksvelstraat in Deuteren. There was a low pre‑registration, but on the spot some passers‑by could be enthused by association members Diny Buise - van Roosmalen, Elly Smit, Johan de Koning and co‑organiser Ruud van Noort. Thanks to them, this matchday was a success after all! 😊

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 5, 2024 - The fact that a tournament does not necessarily have to be grand was proved by the first ‘Bossche summer night games’. A select group of players, including one of the Netherlands’ best players, played three pre‑selected matches. A draw in itself as you can understand but then it was all about the fun. Supported by the fine weather, this certainly succeeded, although it did get a bit cold at the end of the evening.

First place went to the doubles team Alex van Hasselt and Kimberly Timmer of JdB-club ‘t Dupke, Sint-Michielsgestel with 3 wins and 29 points. On behalf of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc, John Pol and Edith Pol - Willemsen secured second place with 3 wins and 24 points. Leading the top three: Joey van Doorn (JdB club ‘t Dupke, Sint-Michielsgestel) and Patrick de Koning (PV Jeu de Bommel, Zaltbommel): 2 wins, 16 points.

The price winners of the ‘Bossch summer night games’. F.l.t.r.: Edith Pol - Willemsen, John Pol,

Kimberly Timmer, Alex van Hasselt, Joey van Doorn and Patrick van Doorn.

On Wednesday evening June 19^th, the next edition of ‘Bossche summer night games’ will take place. Registration can be done via OnTip.

The next ‘Bossche doubles’ will take place on Sunday, June 23^rd. Again, register via OnTip.

June 4, 2024 - Also on the second day of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’, - this time on the pétanque court on the Vincent van Goghlaan (South Hintham) -, there was a fine turnout of all kinds of local residents. Again under the guidance of co-organiser Ruud van Noort, - who was ‘reinforced’ by association members Joke van Gulik and Theo van Wandelen and prospective member Emiel Bootsma -, a number of amicable games were played. 😊

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

June 3, 2024 - Almost exactly one year after the repair of the drainage system carried out by Contractor Smits-Vos from Gameren and thus the completion of the renovated accommodation of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc, the honour was for Alderman Marianne van der Sloot (CDA) to officially reopen the venue. She did so together with Chairman Antoon van Mil and Styn Rijsdijk, board member of sports partner s.v. C.H.C. with which P.U. Bois le Duc has been working intensively since 2020.

After a short speech by both the Chairman and the alderman, with the latter receiving a copy of the future vision of P.U. Bois le Duc, a brief reopening act took place. As with the initial opening in 2022, right before the start of the European Petanque Championships on the Bossche Parade, a large boule made of polystyrene foam was thrown up in unison.

In unison, Styn Rijsdijk (l), Alderman Marianne van der Sloot and Antoon van Mil (r) throw up a large boule

made of polystyrene foam, this as a reopening action of the renovated accommodation.

After the reopening, a cup of coffee and a delicious piece of flan, selflessly sponsored by Jumbo Van Bergen, added lustre to the event. Of course, there was also some playing and the alderman couldn't resist throwing a ball around. She did this with verve, by the way, as she won convincingly! 🥳

June 3, 2024 - Today , - supervised by association members Hans van Woerkum, Paul van den Broek and Hans van Woerkum -, was the kick-off of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’. This is a programme aimed at strengthening social cohesion in the neighbourhood through sport and meeting. ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ comes to the Boschveld, Muntel/Vliert, Hintham and Deuteren/West neighbourhoods for four consecutive weeks. The first location visited today was the local pétanque court located on the Antoon der Kinderenlaan. There was a modest turnout but the participants' enthusiasm was certainly not diminished by it and we can therefore look back on a successful start to the programme! 😊

Do you want to participate?

You can join at any time. Individual participation is possible and free of charge. Boules can be borrowed on site. For more information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Register online or just drop in on the day at the relevant venue.

(click on the logo for more information)

May 29, 2024 - Under the guidance of trainer/General Board Member Rini van Woerkum and association members Theo van Wandelen and Diny Buise - van Roosmalen, a group of employees from energy network operator Enexis played some entertaining matches. All this while enjoying a snack and a drink. Enthusiasm was high and, as a result, one could look back on an enjoyable afternoon and thus a successful company outing. 🥳

If you and your organisation would like to play pétanque (popularly known as ‘jeu de boules’), with or without a snack or meal, please contact us at events@puboisleduc.nl.

May 26, 2024 - With the all-deciding final league match of s.v. C.H.C.'s first team in the afternoon, the atmosphere at Sportpark De Schutskamp swelled briskly throughout the day. The participants in the ‘Bossche doubles’, which played on the 16 pétanque courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc located right next to the soccer club’s main pitch, thereby enjoyed the match atmosphere extra. Just like the soccer club’s first team, the pétanque players also went full steam ahead.

After three preliminary rounds in groups of four (half competition), they divided into an A and B tournament. In both tournaments, a loss meant immediate elimination. After as many as six matches, the final standings could be drawn up. In the A tournament, the doubles team of Jeu de Boules club ‘t Dupke from Sint-Michielsgestel, consisting of Rhiannon Mohini and Laurent Bonafé, took the win and with it the tournament victory. They did so by winning 13‑8 against Jason Lut (JdB club De Walnoot, Boxtel) and Didier Viguurs (‘t Dupke).

The honour for Pétanque Union Bois le Duc was upheld by Marco Tijl and Ronald Crombeen. They managed to advance to the finals in the B tournament where, proudly, they lost to former Dutch champions Son Cao (PV Boules de Boeuf, Oss) and Mart Kruijssen (PC Oisterwijk): 9-13.

The price winners of the ‘Bossche doubles’. Standing f.l.t.r.: Marco Tijl, Mart Kruijssen, Son Cao,

Didier Viguurs and Jason Lut. Squatted f.l.t.r.: Ronald Crombeen, Rhiannon Mohini and Laurent Bonafé.

On Wednesday evening June 5^th, the ‘Bossche summer night games’ will take place. A mini tournament with three pre-selected matches in time. Registration can be done via OnTip.

The next ‘Bossche doubles’ will take place on Sunday, June 23^rd. Again, register via OnTip.

May 18, 2024 - It was an extremely sporty day at Sportpark De Schutskamp. Just before the start of the ‘Bossche bollen mix’ from Pétanque Union Bois le Duc, sponsored by Bakery Van Keulen, no fewer than four Boys Under 9 teams of sporting partner s.v. C.H.C. were honoured on their terrace right next to the sixteen pétanque courts of the only official Bossche pétanque association. The positivity radiating from the soccer youth certainly had an equally positive effect on the 33 pétanque players who made their appearance to compete, - over three rounds of play with ever-changing fellow players and opponents -, for the highest honour. For the best ten participants, delicious Bossche bollen (read: chocolate bulbs filled with whipped cream) were on offer, all under a glorious spring sun.

After three rounds, the final score could be drawn up. Unlike his father Marco Tijl, who finished second in the previous ‘Bossche bollen mix’, his son Thomas managed to take first place with three wins and 29 points. From the hands of Chairman Antoon van Mil, he received no fewer than eight Bossche bollen. With an equal result but based on the result of the first match, second place went to Richard Winters. Former board member Harm Schilders kept up the honour of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc by finishing third with three wins and 18 points. Father Marco Tijl also did well: with 3 wins and 17 points, he finished in sixth place.

The price winners of the ‘Bossche bollen mix’. Standing f.l.t.r.: André Timmermans (5^th), Tessa van Broekhoven (8^th),

Henk van Helvoirt (7^th), Gwenda Kok - Tijl (10^th), Marco Tijl (6^th), Lily Tjondro (9^th), Johan de Koning (4^th) and

Harm Schilders (3^rd). Squatted f.l.t.r.: Richard Winters (2^nd) and Thomas Tijl (1^st).

The next ‘Bossche bollenmix’ will take place on Saturday, June 15^th. Individual participation is possible, registration on site and there are plenty of boules to borrow.

‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’

The social programme ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ will start in June. This programme, which grew out of the EC Pétanque 2022 organised at De Bossche Parade at the time, aims to strengthen social cohesion in the neighbourhood through sports and encounters. Following the previous success, ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ is coming to the Boschveld, Muntel/Vliert, Hintham and Deuteren/West districts for four consecutive weeks. Again, you can participate individually and, above all, for free, boules can be borrowed on location. More information: www.boulesinjebuurt.nl.

(click on the logo for more information)

May 16, 2024 - After having previously organised a pétanque clinic as an explanation at Reinier van Arkel’s location and two boules clinics on the pétanque courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc, no fewer than 22 teams took part in a mini-tournament today under the leadership of Rini van Woerkum and Corrie van Mil - de Looijer, again on location in Vught. This activity was organised as part of the sports and exercise year, an initiative of Reinier van Arkel's Sporting Counter, of which co-organiser Tim Quik is a member. This is an annual event where clients, volunteers and employees of Reinier van Arkel can enjoy sporting events. Something to which Pétanque Union Bois le Duc is happy to contribute. Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, but especially the enthusiasm of the participants, we can look back on a very successful day.

May 13, 2024 - The real work has begun! Sport Impact Maker Anke Collart - Kerkhofs and intern Siem Verbruggen, - both working for the ‘s‑Hertogenbosch based social events agency More2Win -, explained their crucial role in this social project to the volunteers of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ on location at Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. Their very enthousiastic presentation was just as enthousiastically received by the assocation members present, who are really looking forward to it! 😊

(click on the logo for more information)

May 12, 2024 - In ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the boules will start rolling again in June as part of the ‘Boules in your Neigbourhood’ initiative. This programme, born out of the European Pétanque Championship 2022 on the Bossche Parade, aims to strengthen social cohesion in the neighbourhood through sports and encounters. Following its previous success, ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ is coming to the Boschveld, De Muntel/De Vliert, Hintham and Deuteren/West districts. The organisation of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ is in the hands of Jan Arnold and Ruud van Noort, both members of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. They are supported by More2Win from ‘s‑Hertogenbosch, a professional organisation specialised in organising social events and programmes. In preparation for the event, the boules courts in question were fitted with attractive scoreboards last week.

The ‘Boules in your Neigbourhood’ scoreboard.

Connecting together

This low-threshold activity offers residents of all ages and backgrounds the chance to be together, get moving and meet new people. Jeu de boules takes centre stage as the connecting element, revolving around meeting and making new friendships. Thanks to the efforts of enthusiastic volunteers, bocce is played for four weeks, at four different locations.

Meeting is key

The ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’ programme encourages everyone to take part, regardless of experience or physical fitness. No specific skill is required, just a willingness to have fun together and make new social contacts. Boules are provided and, of course, a cup of coffee/tea is not to be missed on these days.

Closing boules day

Finally, a closing boules day will take place on Sunday, June 30^th, organised at Pétanque Union Bois le Duc at De Fuik 10. Once again, everyone is welcome on this afternoon: all participants, but also friends, family, local residents and passers-by. Conviviality, games and encounters are central here. Come along and experience the connecting power of ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’. Sign up! 👈🏻😊

For more information about ‘Boules in your Neighbourhood’, and to keep up to date with playing dates and locations, please visit www.boulesinjebuurt.nl. Registration is not compulsory, but it is desirable. We look forward to a summer full of fun, encounters and new friendships in ‘s‑Hertogenbosch! 🥳

May 12, 2024 - Two male association members of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc, - namely: Johan de Koning and Antoon van Mil -, participated this Sunday in the district championship tête-à-tête of NJBB district South-East. Of a total of 37 participants, the best five eventually went through to the final day, which will take place on Sunday, May 26th at the Nijkerk Jeu de Boules association De NijeBoulers.

Johan de Koning had a very good start and won his first two games very convincingly, against very experienced match players. Because a Swiss system was used, his opposition became increasingly tough and in the third round he faced multiple Dutch champion Joey van Doorn, the eventual winner of the district championship. Despite his sharp play, De Koning had to acknowledge his defeat. He also lost the fourth and fifth games, but all against very strong opponents.

Archive photo April 13^th 2023: Johan de Koning in action on the courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc.

In 2023, Antoon van Mil managed to qualify with good play for the final day of the Dutch tête-à-tête championship in Harderwijk. There, his attempt to advance directly ended in the first round with a narrow loss: 10-13. This year, qualification was out of the question for him, because in the first round, which was played on time, he immediately met the aforementioned Joey van Doorn. Van Mil did not really get going and, after the whistle of full playing time (45 minutes), he could not catch up with Van Doorn in the last two rounds of play. Final score: 6-9. The trend was set as the second and third games were also lost, this by the way against relatively equal opponents but due to very mediocre play by Van Mil. In the fourth and fifth games, however, he recovered and won convincingly twice (something that was not correctly processed by the tournament management, by the way, in the final list he is listed on only one win).

Archive photo May 21^st 2023: Antoon van Mil on the final day of the 2023 NK tête-à-tête in Harderwijk.

With both two wins in their pocket, De Koning and Van Mil can look back on a not super successful but certainly an instructive pétanque day. One in the category: ‘let’s do it again next year!’ 😉

May 4, 2024 - Tonight at 8:00 PM, we reflect on what the younger generation takes for granted: freedom. That freedom has come from the continuous sacrifice people (and not just soldiers) have made over the years. Among other things, that freedom allows us to play pétanque without the fear of a bomb suddenly falling on our heads out of nowhere (as can happen in Ukraine and Gaza right now).

Two minutes of silence, what is that in a human year when you count the human lives that could have been but never were. Soldiers, Jews, Christians and Catholics (Northern Ireland), Muslims (Gaza), Croats and Serbs, Hutus and Tutsis (Rwanda) but also civilians with no specific faith, fathers, mothers and children ... Etc. Those who have perished because a handful of idiots cannot get along and therefore have not been able to make the completion of their lives. Sad to see that history keeps repeating itself and, however fatalistically thought, will unfortunately continue to do so beyond our existence. 😐

Tomorrow we celebrate! Celebration because we (may/can) live in freedom, celebration of life, celebration because we can!!! A celebration is without bias, with a fresh and above all open mind that does not condemn anyone and sees everyone as equal. Exactly what our association stands for: equality. We don’t care what your background is: you are a human being and like every other human being, you are not flawless and that is good! But what is even better is that we know/realise that about each other, especially at the time when things go wrong and people clash. Always try to stay on topic (what goes wrong), avoiding the personal knowing that nobody is perfect. Be open to each other, embrace each other's ideas: even if they don't make sense at first. Then justify why you don't like an idea instead of shrugging your shoulders and (unconsciously) short‑changing someone personally. Make sure you learn from each other, that way we will move forward together as a club but also as a society! 😊

Closing of the association on special dates

For the sake of freedom, we are not open tomorrow (read: Sunday, May 5^th) and this also applies to the other holidays. We are closed to give our volunteers some rest too because, as with any association, it usually comes down to a handful of people. For the record, we hereby repeat these days, you will also find them in the Internal Regulations. We are closed on the following days:

·       New Year’s Day.

·       Carnival Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday.

·       Easter Sunday + Easter Monday.

·       Whit Sunday + Whit Monday.

·       Ascension Day.

·       King’s Day.

·       Liberation Day.

·       Mother’s Day.

·       Father’s Day.

·       December 5^th.

·       Christmas Day + Boxing Day

·       New Year’s Eve.

April 30, 2024 - As many as 24 members attended the training evening: what a huge success, again! Accompanied by trainers Hans and Rini van Woerkum, they played a fun game of ‘Butter, cheese and eggs’, among other things. 🙂

April 28, 2024 - Spring has started but there was often no sign of it during the first edition of the ‘Bossche doubles’, - an official NJBB tournament for licence holders. An at times scanty wind put the 32 teams from all over the Netherlands to the test. Despite the resulting very cold hands, amplified by the icy metal of the boules, high-quality play was nevertheless regularly displayed. A number of lauded Dutch champions were present as well as the women’s youth selection of the Dutch Pétanque Association (NJBB).

On the 16 fully occupied pétanque courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc at De Fuik 10, three preliminary rounds were played in time (half competition) in groups of four teams each. The 16 best teams then went on to the A tournament, the remaining teams to the B tournament. In both tournaments it was ‘do or die’ as losing meant direct elimination: each round therefore halved the number of teams remaining in each tournament. In both tournaments, there were cash prices for the best four teams.

After no fewer than seven matches, the winners of the ‘Bossche boules’ could be announced around seven o’clock. Cas Schellekens and Pedro Welten, both members of JBC ‘t Dupke from Sint‑Michielsgestel, managed to crown themselves the tournament winners despite losing the third preliminary round. They did this by defeating former Dutch champion Son Cao (PV Boules de Boeuf, Oss) and his playing partner Osman Jibril (PV Tilburg) in the final: 13-3.

F.l.t.r.: competition leader Liesbeth van Ooijen - van Rooijen, Cas Schellekens, Pedro Welten, Son Cao and Osman Jibril.

The B tournament was won by the doubles team Peter Timmermans (PV Tilburg) and Serge Hamond (JBC ‘t Harde). They managed to secure the overall victory at the expense of Eddie Hollestelle (JdB association Petangeske, Bergen op Zoom) and Bianca Braat (JdB association Helmond 2010): 13-9.

The best result for Pétanque Union Bois le Duc was achieved by John Pol and Hans van Woerkum, they finished fourth in the B tournament, after a narrow loss of the consolation final: 12-13.

The price winners of the B tournament. F.l.t.r.: Serge van Hamond, Peter Timmermans,

Eddie Hollestelle, competition leader Liesbeth van Ooijen - van Rooijen, Herman van den Berg,

Hennie Verschuren, John Pol and Hans van Woerkum.

The next edition of the ‘Bossche doubles’ will take place on Sunday, May 26^th 2024, registration is already possible via OnTip. Be quick because ... FULL IS FULL!!!

April 23, 2024 - Wonen & Welzijn, - a regional operating financial services provider and broker ‑, was founded by Chris Emans and opened its doors in 2003 on the Kerkstraat in Ammerzoden. Now, more than 20 years later, the company also has a branch in Kerkdriel where the management team has been expanded by the accession of Lennart Veldhuijzen and Kevin van Kilsdonk. Spread across the two locations, several dozen staff work to provide Wonen & Welzijn’s customers with sound advice and the right financial products.

Wonen & Welzijn is also an independent RegioBank advisor and, in that capacity, can also provide many banking products. In short: all financial services under one roof!

Visit www.wonenenwelzijn.nl for more information or click on one of the logos below.

Chairman Antoon van Mil was one of the first customers in Ammerzoden at the time and, when he decided to organise events on behalf of Jeu de Boules association L'Ammerzo, also one of the first organisers to ask founder Chris Emans for sponsorship. Pleasantly surprised by his request, Chris immediately responded positively and so it is that ‘since the beginning’ Wonen & Welzijn has sponsored the local pétanque scene. Later, PV Hatalle from Hedel was also sponsored and now, thanks to Lennart Veldhuijzen, since its foundation in 2016, Pétanque Union Bois le Duc.

The three-year sponsorship contract with Wonen & Welzijn expired earlier this year and, despite the relatively fresh COVID era, Wonen & Welzijn was again willing to sponsor our association. Director Lennart Veldhuijzen agreed to once again extend the sponsorship contract by three years. It should be clear that we are grateful to Wonen & Welzijn: a starting association like ours can use all the support it can get. Many thanks Chris, Lennart and Kevin! 👍🏻🥳

A small but sporting break with a nod to a long-standing tradition:

not one of Wonen & Welzijn’s board members accepts the cake at the signing of

the sponsorship contract but loyal employee Tom de Koning.

April 19, 2024 - Another milestone in the history of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc! The last eleven of our association’s in total sixteen pétanque courts have been fitted with LED lighting. Now play on the complex can continue until late in the evening. 🥳

Commissioned by LedsGoEco from Barneveld, the Eden-based ZZP contractor Jurrian Tomassen came to install the LED fixtures on the previously installed lampposts. Together with his partner Daan, he managed to successfully complete the installation, despite the severe weather with lots of wind and sometimes heavy precipitation. A double socket was also installed on the middle of a total of three lighting columns. Chapeau! 👍🏻

The two new lightposts with LED lighting with the double socket on the front lightpost.

At the end of the day, there was an undeserved setback. Just before the colossus could be put on the trailer, one of the tracks of the boom lift broke. With much creativity and Chairman Antoon van Mil’s ‘dead weight’ on the boom for a leverage effect, the unit could still be manoeuvred onto the trailer.

Sometimes things are along and sometimes they are against … Jurrian Tomassen tries

to get the faulty aerial platform onto the trolley.

At a later date, LedsGoEco will now return to install a double socket on the last lamppost as well. Only then will the work be truly complete.

April 16, 2024 - Also in season 2024-2025, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 and P.U. Bois le Duc 2 will be back in action in the National Pétanque Competition. Both teams promoted from the 6^th to the 5^th Division last season, thus writing sports history for ‘s‑Hertogenbosch. We are happy to introduce the teams for the coming season ...

The daily board wishes both teams a lot of fun and above all: good luck! 🥳

April 2, 2024 - The first training session led by Hans and Rini van Woerkum was a great success! A total of some 20 participants were present to learn the intricacies of our game/sport ‘pétanque’. In a fortnight’ time (read: Tuesday, April 16^th 2024) the next training will take place, again, of course, on our outdoor courts located at De Fuik 10 in ‘s‑Hertogenbosch. Anyone may participate (without obligation) and it does not matter whether or not you are a member of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. The accommodation will be open from 7:00 PM, the training will start at 7:15 PM. For more information, click here for the folder of the ‘P.U. Bois le Duc academy’.

Illustrative photo: Rini van Woerkum explains during a pétanque clinic.

April 1, 2024 - From April 1^st 2024, Pétanque Union Bois le Duc will have new opening hours. And no, this is not an April fool! 🙂 Click here for more information.

For all activities: introducees are welcome!

March 27, 2024 - To conclude the winter season and with it the indoor play in Ammerzoden, a mutual tournament took place tonight in Boulodrome L’Ammerzo between some ten players from Jeu de Boules association L’Ammerzo and an equally large number of players from Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. Five pre-composed doubles teams from each association competed with each other in a convivial and extremely sporting atmosphere. Due to a somewhat late start (8:00 PM), it was decided to play only two games, though.

The evening was won by the doubles team of ‘s-Hertogenbosch consisting of John Pol and Hans van Woerkum. They managed to win both matches with a whopping 23 plus points. An equally honourable place went to the doubles team of Ammerzoden consisting of Annie Pijnenburg and Henk van der Loo Jr. with 2 wins and 17 plus points. 🥳

March 26, 2024 - While Rini van Woerkum and Antoon van Mil welcomed three groups of students from the Stedelijk Gymnasium ‘s‑Hertogenbosch for their second and final pétanque clinic, Diny Buise - van Roosmalen and Corrie van Mil - de Looijer were hard at work cleaning the scoreboards. The result is impressive, they just shine! 🥳

March 25, 2024 - ‘In motion with autism’, a programme of the sports desk of the Vught-based Reinier van Arkel, visited the pétanque courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc twice this month. After an introductory/pétanque clinic on March 5^th on location in Vught, board member and trainer Rini van Woerkum welcomed programme participants to the Pétanque Union Bois le Duc accommodation on Monday, March 11^th and Monday, March 25^th. There, despite the somewhat moderate weather, a number of matches were played with great enthousiasm.

A follow-up has already been planned as another pétanque clinic will be organised on Friday, May 16^th, again in Vught and this time with the support of both Rini van Woerkum and Chairman Antoon van Mil.

March 24, 2024 - From Tuesday evening April 2^nd next, training will take place every fortnight on the boules courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. Trainers Hans and Rini van Woerkum will then teach experienced but also inexperienced players the technical but also tactical tricks of the game/sport ‘pétanque’, as the game with the iron balls is officially called.

Training starts at 7:15 PM and lasts about an hour. Afterwards, a practice match will be played to put what was learned into practice. Participation in the training is free and there are plenty of boules to borrow. So you can get acquainted with the game/sport but also with the association in a very accessible and non-committal way. At 7:00 PM, the sixteen boules courts at De Fuik 10, located directly behind the club building of football club s.v. C.H.C., will open. Pre-registration is not necessary, you can sign up on the spot. Click here for more information.

Archive photo September 8^th 2023: trainer Rini van Woerkum explains.

March 23, 2024 - Press release.

P.U. BOIS LE DUC AWAITS INVITATION OF ALDERMAN VAN DER SLOOT

Who would have thought, just two years after the official opening of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. That two competition teams could be assembled at all was a small miracle in itself, after all, most of the jeu de boules association from ‘s-Hertogenbosch is recreational in nature. But, driven by the training sessions given from the moment of opening, a large group of players still signed up for the National Pétanque Competition 2023-2024. After a shuffling by trainers Hans and Rini van Woerkum, two teams were put on paper. The first team was filled with very experienced players and the second team with call it ‘the new batch’. The association’s goal: at least with the first team to promote from the 6^th to the 5^th Division of the competition but also to ensure a more experienced second team.

In the history of our beautiful capital of Brabant, there was not yet an official association affiliated to the Dutch Jeu de Boules Association (NJBB) within its municipal boundaries, let alone a team that could promote within an official association competition. It is therefore extra special that now, - after the fourteenth and final match day of the National Pétanque Competition 2023‑2024 ‑, not only the first team of P.U. Bois le Duc has become champion but also the second team. Whereas P.U. Bois le Duc 1 had already secured its promotion to the 5^th Division two match days before the end of the competition completely unbeaten, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 did so on the very last match day, away against PV Le Château in Wijchen. Only a win by P.U. Bois le Duc 2 against the team from Wijchen would mean maintenance at the top of the competition table and thus promotion to the 5^th Division, exactly what happened with the 5-3 victory.

Founder and Chairman Antoon van Mil is very proud: “The second team is composed of inexperienced players but they are people who like each other well and in that capacity have become a real team. A good team spirit is often more decisive than the qualities of the individual player and it shows!” Van Mil is even more proud of the fact that these association members, both those of the first and second teams, are making history. “How cool is it that, as a brand-new association, we are scoring like this! We are writing local sports history and our entire board is incredibly proud of that.” Whether there will be any kind of homage is yet to be determined. Van Mil is actually hoping for an invitation from Alderman Van der Sloot to put ‘his teams’ in the limelight for once. “That would be an equal opportunity to highlight the importance of our game/sport of pétanque and explain the need for indoor accommodation.” For the competition, the association has been forced to move to a boules hall in Ammerzoden as it has no hall of its own but that is not the main concern. Van Mil is referring in particular to the increasing ageing population and the accessibility of the game/sport for the elderly in particular. “The Netherlands is ageing,” Van Mil continued, “An accommodation where the elderly in particular can play all year round is of great importance for the vitality of this group and their social contacts. Through the low-threshold game, we encourage movement and indirectly fight against loneliness.” It is clear that Pétanque Union Bois le Duc does not want to be purely sporting but above all a social enterprise and be at the centre of society.

March 19, 2024 - The future of the Netherlands entered our courts today for a pétanque clinic. Divided into three groups, some 75 young adults from the Stedelijk Gymnasium ‘s‑Hertogenbosch took part in the clinic, which was supervised by Rini van Woerkum and Antoon van Mil.

After a very brief explanation by both gentlemen, the youngsters had to battle it out to be the first to reach 13 points. They did so in a very lively manner, but the game became increasingly fierce, and fortunately sportsmanship remained of paramount importance.

March 18, 2024 - With effect from April 1^st 2024, Pétanque Union Bois le Duc will have new opening hours. One of the most important changes is the addition of Wednesday afternoons. If this afternoon becomes a success then maybe another morning or afternoon will be added, this of course strongly depends on the enthousiasm. The new regular opening hours are as follows …

Monday evening

7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

(starting at 7:15 PM)

Wednesday afternoon

1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

(starting at 1:15 PM)

Thursday evening

7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

(starting at 7:15 PM, mandatory mix)

Sunday afternoon

1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

(starting at 1:15 PM)

Training

Training will take place every fortnight from April 2^nd 2024. Click here for more information.

NOTE: for all regular playing days as well as the training sessions,

guests are welcome! 😊

Be on time!

March 16, 2024 - “Never give up!”, is a cry you often hear in the sports world. That also applies to P.U. Bois le Duc 2. After giving away the lead in the 6^th Division - Group 6003 of the National Pétanque Competition 2023‑2024 a fortnight ago, ‑ this due to a loss against Boekel ‑, they had to win to stay in the race for the championship. This is because the top five in the competition are so close together that a slip would shake the entire ranking. So it was make or break, away against PV Boules de Boeuf 4 in Oss.

On the rock‑hard and therefore very difficult courts in Oss, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 got off to a more than energetic start. In the first of a total of three rounds of play, all three doubles were won (13‑10, 13‑7, 13‑10). What a flying start!

However, PV Boules de Boeuf 4 was not going to surrender without a fight and showed its teeth in the second and also triples round. The team from Oss managed to win convincingly 2‑13, at the expense of Johan de Koning, Kevin Lankes and Gwenda Kok - Tijl. Fortunately for the team from ‘s‑Hertogenbosch, the triples team Ruud van Hintum, Marco Tijl and Inge Boonzaaijer had the wind in their sails and managed to win convincingly by 13‑6. This increased the lead to 4‑1 and P.U. Bois le Duc 2 only needed to win one more game to secure the day’s victory.

What P.U. Bois le Duc 2 did not know at that time, the players of the previously promoted P.U. Bois le Duc 1 did. For they were playing away in Schijndel (7‑1 win) where at that time PV Wij Liggen 5, the competition leader, were trailing against Boekel (3‑2). However, there were still a large number of matches to be played and so the club-mates decided not to communicate anything to the team members of P.U. Bois le Duc 2, this so as not to put extra pressure on them.

In the third round, again in doubles, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 went all out to secure the win and did so only with two difficult victories. The doubles team Ruud van Hintum / Marco Tijl managed to win 13‑10, as did the doubles team Kevin Lankes / Elly Smit. With the opposite figures, the doubles team Johan de Koning / Gwenda Kok - Tijl had to acknowledge their superiority to the team of Oss (10‑13). Final score: 6‑2 in favour of P.U. Bois le Duc 2.

What people did not know was that in Schijndel the team from Boekel had followed through on their plans to win. PV Wij Liggen 5 lost there by 3‑5 making P.U. Bois le Duc 2 once again lead the competition table in the 6^th Division - Group 6003, this with one all-decisive match day to go.

F.l.t.r.: Ruud van Hintum, Marco Tijl, Gwenda Kok - Tijl, Kevin Lankes,

Elly Smit, Johan de Koning and Inge Boonzaaijer.

Saturday, March 23rd will be the last matchday of the National Pétanque Competition 2023-2024. P.U. Bois le Duc 2 then has its promotion to the 5^th Division in its own hands, away against PV Le Château 5 in Wijchen. P.U. Bois le Duc 1 plays, purely as a formality, at home in Ammerzoden against JdB club 't Veer 1 from Raamsdonkveer.

March 14, 2024 - Despite their relatively young age, together they easily have more than 50 years of playing experience: Ruud van Hintum (38) and Dennis Pol (41). Both men have been playing pétanque since their youth and have played at a high Dutch level on several occasions. For just as long, they have participated in numerous (inter‑)national tournaments and national competitions. With regularity, both still play together with our Chairman (Antoon van Mil) with whom they founded Pétanque Union Bois le Duc by notarial deed in 2016.

Chairman Antoon van Mil hands over a bouquet of flowers to Notary Mr. Thijs Kampschöer.

Treasurer Dennis Pol (on the left) and Secretary Ruud van Hintum (on the right) see to it that all goes well.

However, even in the year of foundation, plans to expand the association were shelved, this because the proposed accommodation was not allowed to be used. See news archive 2016 ‑ 2019. In 2020, on the initiative of President Antoon van Mil, the ‘dormant’ association was revived with Ruud van Hintum immediately taking on the role of Treasurer. Dennis Pol’s role was then taken over by Harm Schilders.

At the end of 2023, Ruud van Hintum decided, after proper consultation with the other board members, to hand over his duties to first‑name Ruud van Noort. In the same board meeting, at the Chairman’s request, it was decided to appoint both co‑founders as the association’s first honorary members.

The official honouring of Ruud van Hintum and Dennis Pol took place during the General Members’ Meeting in Social Cultural Center De Helftheuvel. Here, they received a bouquet of flowers and a certificate from Chairman Antoon van Mil.

F.l.t.r.: Ruud van Hintum, Chairman Antoon van Mil and Dennis Pol.

March 14, 2024 - Gerhard van Keulen, co‑owner of Bakery Van Keulen has agreed to continue sponsoring the ‘Bossche bollen mix’ for the next five years (read: 2024 to 2028) with their delicious Bossche bollen (chocolate bulbs). Gerhard, many thanks for this fantastic sponsorship! 🥳

March 14, 2024 - There is nothing better than hiring a true professional, someone who is knowledgeable and skilled enough to gaet an installation done right the first time. Such was the case with Rick Paanakker, owner of RP Plumbers & Installation. He came to re‑finish the leaking copper pipe from our association’s sink. It turned out that the used quick‑release coupling was no longer tight.

Rick Paanakker (left) and a very happy Chairman Antoon van Mil (right) after the labour done.

As befits a true professional, it took Rick Paanakker just five minutes to fix the fault. A new piece of copper pipe and a quick connector combined with craftsmanship did the job. So now, after weeks of having to go down the court with dirty hands, the members of our club can wash their hands fresh again.

March 2, 2024 - It was not the very best day in the history of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. Ok, the day may have been relatively warm and very sunny, but all sorts of things went wrong.

It started early in the morning when chairman Antoon van Mil received the mechanics of Transportbedrijf Bosch Hedel B.V. around 7:15 AM. They came on behalf of Barneveld-based LedsGoEco to install the two new lamp posts (but not yet adjust them as far as the lamps were concerned). Unfortunately, it turned out that the wrong brackets had been delivered, making it impossible to install the LED luminaires and bring them up directly. Of necessity, therefore, only the bare masts were installed, something both gentlemen managed to do in no time and to the great satisfaction of our Chairman.

At a later date, the LED luminaires will still be installed and adjusted, LedsGoEco's planning is right on top of it. Let us hope that this time the delivery of the right materials will not take too long.

Still a bit grumpy from the partly successful installation of the light masts, our Chairman headed to Boekel in high spirits to cheer on P.U. Bois le Duc 2. In their battle to retain the lead position in the 6^th Division - Group 6003, the team from ’s-Hertogenbosch had to win against Jeu de Bouckles 2.

In the first round, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 got off to a difficult start, winning only one out of three doubles matches (13‑9, 4‑13, 8‑13), resulting in a 1‑2 deficit. However, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 did not give in and sought sporting revenge in the second round, this time in triples form.

The first triple was won convincingly (13‑5), bringing the score to 2‑2 and the tension of the encounter back immediately. Unfortunately, this was short-lived as the second triplet was lost just as quickly (2‑13), leaving the team facing another deficit: 2‑3.

After proper consultation, the team composition was changed for the third and also final doubles round, this to increase the chances of winning the day or at least a draw. This seemed to result immediately as the doubles team Tijl - Boonzaaijer managed to win extremely effectively with the highest possible score (13‑0!). This brought the interval to 3‑3 and a draw, or even a win, thus became potentially possible. Despite their good start, the women’s team Smit - Tijl failed to keep up and lost 6‑13. So it was up to the De Koning - Pachen team to secure a draw. Despite being well behind, this doubles team fought back very strongly in the match. However, at the moment suprême, a crucial tactical error was made, leaving the opponent’s thirteenth and decisive point in place too long. Unfortunately, what seemed to be a small stunt given the equalised arrears turned into an equally big deception: 10‑13. This loss brought the final score to 3‑5 in favour of the Boekelnaren.

As the then number two in the standings, PV Wij Liggen 5 from Schijndel, won, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 lost its lead and is now second in the standings. With two more match days to go, it will therefore depend on the result of others for promotion to the 5^th Division and must at least win both times.

On Saturday, March 16th, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 will be back in action, then off in Oss against PV Boules de Boeuf 4. On the same date, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 will play against PV Wij Liggen 4 in Schijndel, this meeting being a mere formality as the team from ’s-Hertogenbosch has already won the championship before the end of the competition.

March 1, 2024 - Locked Safe Holland director Marcel Theunissen personally arrived on site to install the SKG** approved Puck Keysafe key safe he sponsored. In the process, he was watched by trainee Olivier van Wijk, whose clean job was to film the installation work. After all, this key safe is new in the range of the renowned Zaltbommel security company, so an instructional video was immediately recorded for later use. This is how Locked Safe Holland ensures that its quality remains very high.

After mounting the key safe, Chairman Antoon van Mil officially took it into use, this by inserting the key to the LED light masts. The official handover then took place, which was ratified by a handshake with Marcel Theunissen. Locked Safe Holland, thank you!  🥳

February 24, 2024 - With a very convincing 8-0(!) victory over the number two of the 6^th Division - Group 6004, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 secured its promotion to the 5^th Division of the National Pétanque Competition. In Ammerzoden, the first team of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc proverbially swept the court with its opponent, the extremely sporty team of Jeu de Boules association L’Ammerzo. The team was watched by a number of enthousiastic fellow association members who had come to Ammerzoden especially for this moment (and played a game themselves). With two playing days to go, respectively against PV Wij Liggen from Schijndel and Jeu de Boules association ‘t Veer from Raamsdonksveer, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 can no longer escape promotion, this given its lead in points. It is the first time in the history of ‘s-Hertogenbosch that a jeu de boules club located within its municipal boundaries promotes in a competition system of the Dutch Jeu de Boules Association (NJBB). A sporting achievement in itself, especially considering that the association has just opened two years ago and P.U. Bois le Duc 1 has not lost a single match day either.

On Saturday, March 16th, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 will be back in action, this time in Schijndel. First up is P.U. Bois le Duc 2 on Saturday, March 2nd. The second team of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc is also leading in its group, also in the 6th Division. The team then plays away against Boekel-based Jeu de Bouckles where it will try to hold on to its narrow lead over number two (Oss). Then, away in Oss against PV Boules de Boeuf, it has a tough task ahead. A win is needed to stay on top of the rankings, so it’s not over yet for P.U. Bois le Duc 2!

February 17, 2024 - On the eleventh day of the National Pétanque Competition 2023‑2024, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 played against Boekel and P.U. Bois le Duc 2 against Zevenaar, ‘at home’ in Ammerzoden. Both teams play in the 6^th Division of the competition, but in different groups.

P.U. Bois le Duc 2 started well in Ammerzoden, into its meeting with Jeu de Boules association Zevenaar. In the first round, two out of three doubles matches were won: 2‑1 in favour of the team from ‘s‑Hertogenbosch. In the second round the winning line was continued, albeit narrowly (13‑7 and 13‑12), by turning both triples matches into wins. With a 4‑1 lead and full of self‑confidence, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 entered the third round, again in doubles form. However, the players of Jeu de Boules association Zevenaar did not give up and did everything they could to at least achieve a draw. P.U. Bois le Duc 2, on the other hand, only had to win once to capitalise on its large lead and take the day’s victory ... The players of the team from ‘s‑Hertogenbosch just forgot to do this. All three doubles matches were lost (11‑13, 6‑13, 12‑13) achieving the opponent’s goal, a 4‑4 draw. Despite this mediocre result, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 is still in the lead in group 6003 and promotion to the 5^th Division still beckons.

F.l.t.r.: Peer van Steeden (supporter), Inge Boonzaaijer, Elly Smit, Henri Pachen, Gwenda Kok - Tijl,

Johan de Koning and Marco Tijl. Squatted: Kevin Lankes.

P.U. Bois le Duc 1 played a relatively simple match day in Boekel, this time without base players Liesbeth van Ooijen - van Rooijen and Antoon van Mil. Supplemented with substitutes Corrie van Mil - de Looijer and Ruud van Hintum, Jeu de Bouckles 3 from Boekel was sidelined very effectively. Edith Pol - Willemsen, Rini van Woerkum, John Pol and Hans van Woerkum, together with the aforementioned substitute players, managed to achieve the highest possible result with an 8‑0 victory. At the same time in Ammerzoden, L’Ammerzo 2, the number two in group 6004, played a draw against Dongen. As a result, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 is now six match points clear of its biggest competitor and promotion to the 5^th Division can hardly escape the team.

F.l.t.r.: Edith Pol - Willemsen, John Pol, Corrie van Mil - de Looijer, Rini van Woerkum

and Ruud van Hintum. Squatted: Hans van Woerkum.

On Saturday, February 24^th, the numbers one and two of group 6004 will play each other in Ammerzoden: P.U. Bois le Duc 1 against L’Ammerzo 2. If the team from ‘s‑Hertogenbosch manages to win, it is already champion, three playing days before the end of the competition. P.U. Bois le Duc 2 will return to action on Saturday, March 2^nd, against Jeu de Bouckles 2 in Boekel. The team will have to keep winning to stay on top of the ranking in group 6003.

February 12, 2024 - Are you ready for it??? A great summer season full of fun and competitive tournaments is coming! 😊 We organise cool tournaments in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, both on weekends and on Wednesday evenings.

‘Bossche doubles’

On Sundays we organise the ‘Bossche doubles’ five times. These are separate tournaments. First you play three preliminary rounds on time (1 hour + the current throwing round + a maximum of two throwing rounds), in a group of four teams. The best two from each group advance to the A tournament, the numbers three and four go to the B tournament. After that, it is a matter of survival with a direct elimination system. The best four in each tournament win prices: A tournament = money, B tournament = wine. Want to register? You can do this via OnTip.

‘Bossche summer night games’

The ‘Bossche summer night games’ is being organised for the first time this year. On three separate Wednesday evenings, three pre-drawn matches will be played on time. Each match lasts a maximum of 1 hour + current throwing round + one throwing round. You can also register your team for these tournaments via OnTip.

‘Bossche bollen mix’

There are no fewer than six editions of the ‘Bossche bollen mix’. You can then visit our courts on the relevant Saturdays. Pre-registration is not necessary, you simply register on site. You can participate individually and we have plenty of boules. If you play well you have a chance to win delicious Bossche bollen. 😊

We'll see each other in ’s-Hertogenbosch!!!

February 3, 2024 - On the tenth matchday of the National Pétanque Competition 2023‑2024, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 had to play at home against Cloeck & Moedigh 8 from Sint-Oedenrode and P.U. Bois le Duc 2 against Boules de Boeuf 5 from Oss. Before the start of their sporting encounters, both teams from ’s-Hertogenbosch were at the top of their group of the 6^th Division, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 even undefeated.

In Ammerzoden, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 played against the last stop of the competition: Cloeck & Moedigh 8. This team not only has number 8, but is also eighth and therefore last in the standings of group 6004 of the 6^th Division, with as many loosing points as the team from ‘s‑Hertogenbosch has positives after nine match days. The statistics translated into reality because P.U. Bois le Duc 1 was far too strong for he extremely friendly Sint-Oedenrode residents: 8-0. With this call it a ‘monster victory’, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 is unapproachable in the lead and promotion is increasingly on the horizon.

On the back, f.l.t.r.: Antoon van Mil, Liesbeth van Ooijen - van Rooijen, Rini van Woerkum and John Pol.

On the front, f.l.t.r.: Edith Pol - Willemsen and Hans van Woerkum.

In Oss the second team started very difficult. Of the three doubles matches of the first of a total of three rounds, only one was won: 2-13, 6-13 and 13-6. They immediately faced a 1-2 deficit, a deficit that the team of ‘s-Hertogenbosch would not overcome. In the second round, this time in triples form, only one of the two games was won. Intermediate standings: 2-3. The final round, again three doubles matches, would therefore be decisive. In order to draw at all, they had to win twice, something that P.U. Bois le Duc 2 was unable to do: 6-13, 7-13 and 13-6. This made the final score 3-5 in favour of the home team from Oss. Depending on the results of its direct competitors, the question now is whether P.U. Bois le Duc 2 retains its leading position in group 6003 of the 6^th Division, and therefore has a chance of promotion to the 5^th Division.

Gwenda Kok - Tijl (far left) isn’t paying attention for a moment and hubby Marco Tijl immediately seizes

the opportunity! 😊 Here he is observed by Inge Boonzaaijer (right next to the bust). Teammates Elly Smit,

Johan de Koning, Henri Pachen, Monique van Steeden - Martin (squatted) and Kevin Lankes (squatted)

apparently do not notice anything.

Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, February 17^th. P.U. Bois le Duc 1 plays away against Boekel, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 plays at home (in Ammerzoden) against Zevenaar.

January 27, 2024 - On the ninth matchday of the National Pétanque Competition 2023‑2024, all teams of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc played an away match: P.U. Bois le Duc 1 had to play in Dongen against Jeu de Boules association Dongen, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 played against PV Wij Liggen in Schijndel. These were two important meetings because the teams from ‘s‑Hertogenbosch are both leaders in their group of the 6^th Division. The first team had to win to take an even greater distance from its competitors, after all the team was still undefeated. The second team had a direct battle with its biggest competitor: if it lost, the team would immediately be relegated to second place.

The players of Dongen, one of P.U. Bois le Duc 1 biggest competitors last season, had their first meeting with the team of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in October 2023, due to the excellent weather on the outdoor courts of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc. P.U. Bois le Duc 1 then put the team from Dongen aside very effectively by winning 6-2. So it was their moment of revenge, in their own boulodrome in Dongen. Driven by the previous loss, the home team started very energetically in the first doubles round and that is how P.U. Bois le Duc 1, for the first time in the entire competition, immediately fell behind 1-2. After a constructive team meeting, a significant change was made to the setup of P.U. Bois le Duc 1, for the triples round. This turned out to be a good choice because both matches were won convincingly: 13-0 and 13-5. The deficit was immediately converted into a 3-2 lead! The team from ‘s-Hertogenbosch also adjusted its line-up for the third and final round and, albeit with a bit of luck, managed to win all three matches. Once again P.U. Bois le Duc 1 won 6-2 against Dongen and with this day’s victory it remains in the lead in the 6^th Division ‑ Group 6004.

In Schijndel, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 started a bit more energetic in its meeting with PV Wij Liggen. The team managed to win three out of three doubles matches in the first round (3-0). In the following triples and doubles round, P.U. Bois le Duc 2 only needed to win two out of five games to secure the day’s victory. However, this turned out to be easier said than done because Schijndel, the number 2 of the 6^th Division - Group 6003, did not simply give up! Both triples were lost and a 3‑2 score was a fact. In the final round, which is played in doubles format, the players of P.U. Bois le Duc 2 therefore needed to win two out of three matches. Despite an utmost effort, the team from ‘s-Hertogenbosch was unable to achieve this: only one double was won. Final score: 4‑4. Thanks to this draw, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 retains its leading position with the team from Schijndel still right behind them.

P.U. Bois le Duc 2 in the hall of PV Wij Liggen in Schijndel. F.l.t.r.: Henri Pachen, Elly Smit, Kevin Lankes,

Marco Tijl, Monique van Steeden - Martin, Johan de Koning and Inge Boonzaaijer.

On Saturday, February 3^rd the teams are back in action. P.U. Bois le Duc 1 plays at home, in Ammerzoden, against Jeu de Boules association Cloeck & Moedigh from Sint-Oedenrode. P.U. Bois le Duc 2 again plays away, this time against PV Boules de Boeuf in Oss.

January 25, 2024 - Getting the keys to the right people at the right time is and will always remain a challenge within an association. Sometimes people want to and sometimes they don’t want to take the key ‘on the man’. A key safe, in this case for the key to our LED lighting, offers a solution, but such a thing costs a lot of money, provided you settle for inferior quality.

Because Pétanque Union Bois le Duc attaches great importance to quality, our Chairman Antoon van Mil contacted Director/Owner Marcel Theunissen of the security company Locked Safe Holland from Zaltbommel. This company specialises in high-quality security products and solutions.

Locked Safe Holland is very socially involved and already sponsors various social initiatives. Nevertheless, our Chairman found the company willing to sponsor us with an SKG** approved key safe including installation. Locked Safe Holland, thank you very much! 🥳

The sponsored key safe (Puck Keysafe - SKG**)

Januari 13, 2024 - It is said that mascots are a myth, a form of superstition that unconsciously affects the psyche of players and influences their euphoric peace of mind in such a way that sporting performance increases. Both competition teams of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc also have a mascot, namely Riet Heijmans - Verharen. With her respectable age (81), small stature with a very friendly and cuddly appearance, she is always modest but oh so enthousiastic. Silently enjoying the game, she sits on the sidelines to share her positivity, translated into sincere encouragement, with the players at the right moment. Perhaps it is because of her that both P.U. Bois le Duc 1 as P.U. Bois le Duc 2 were immediately successful after the winter break in the 6^th Division of the National Pétanque Competition 2023-2024.

P.U. Bois le Duc 1 took part in the home match against Jeu de Boules association Altena from Sleeuwijk. The opponent had to make up for something because the last time, with the away match, the team from ‘s-Hertogenbosch managed to beat Altena with no less than 8-0 (the maximum score). The people from Altena were driven and did their best to win, at least to surpass the result of last time. Only the latter worked, P.U. Bois le Duc 1 again won convincingly, this time 6-2.

P.U. Bois le Duc 2 played on the courts next to the first team against Jeu de Boules association Lingewaard from Huissen, Gelderland. With a 3-0 lead after the first round, the team was immediately on the proverbial roses because to win the day, two more wins were needed from a total of five matches to be played. The team did exactly that and, in a very good atmosphere, defeated its opponent 5-3.

This double victory means that both teams from ‘s-Hertogenbosch remain at the top of their group in the 6^th Division and promotion to the 5^th Division beckons. Let’s hope that the mascot maintains its positive influence. 😉

Circled in the middle, the mascot of Pétanque Union Bois le Duc: Riet Heijmans - Verharen.

Standing f.l.t.r.: Antoon van Mil, Rini van Woerkum (back), Corrie van Mil - de Looijer (front), John Pol, Edith Pol,

Liesbeth van Ooijen - van Rooijen, Kevin Lankes, Monique Steeden - Martin (front), Marco Tijl (back), Henri Pachen,

Elly Smit and José van Heesch. Squatted in the foreground, f.l.t.r.: Hans van Woerkum and Theo van Wandelen.

On Saturday January 27th coming both teams are back in action. P.U. Bois le Duc 1 then plays away against Dongen and P.U. Bois le Duc 2 visits Pétanque Association Wij Liggen in Schijndel. See the schedule for more details.

Januari 13, 2024 - New hobbies are always fun and provide an adventurous challenge that should show whether what you have started is really something you enjoy. For example, our association member Kevin Lankes bought a 3D printer, a device that can produce/print three-dimensional objects based on digital construction drawings (computer files). His hobby seems to have caught on because, in addition to a number of 3D figures, Kevin quickly managed to make these beautiful creations, including a personal thank you for his team (P.U. Bois le Duc 2) and especially his teammate Theo van Wandelen. Due to health reasons, the latter played for the last time today in the National Pétanque Competition 2023-2024.

On the left Kevin Lankes with the thank you gift for P.U. Bois le Duc 2 in his hands.

On the right, Theo van Wandelen with the 3D print of his own name.

Januari 11, 2024 - CHANGE OF OPENING HOURS IN THE WINTER MONTHS! Another adjustment to our opening hours during the bleak winter months. It has been decided to play indoors on Tuesday evenings in Ammerzoden, in the hall of Jeu de Boules association L'Ammerzo (and therefore no longer on Wednesday evenings). The hall is open on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM, the first match starts at 7:30 PM.

Be on time!

For the most current opening hours, go to the ‘Accommodation’ sub-page of our website.

January 5, 2024 - The Thursday evening mix will also be played every week in 2024. The results of all Thursdays of the year together result in the ‘Individual champion 2024’. This year we are abandoning the classification system as it was used for the past two years, to make this competition more attractive to all members.

In 2024, to have a chance of winning the final, an association member must play at least 30 mixed matches. If the member plays more, the best 30 matches count towards the ranking. In concrete terms, this means that the more often the member participates, the better the results of the 30 competitions that count (at least that is possible)!

If the weather is good, a maximum of three mixed matches will be played every Thursday. This means that a member can theoretically play up to 150 matches to reach the 30 match threshold. In this way we also make it more attractive but also more accessible for ‘the lesser gods’ to participate. And, as always: participating is always more important than winning! 😊

January 5, 2024 - It took a while before the recipe was developed, but now, almost five months after the ‘Stay at home tournament’ of August 4, the time has finally come! 😊

The secret of Rini van Woerkum’s delicious 'Jeu de BBQ sauce' can be found via this link. 🥳

Good luck with your preparation and... Bon appetit!!! 🍽️

Dutch Pétanque Association (NJBB): 3035

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