The Country Fair has been a crowd-puller for years for all those who love abundant outdoor living. Last year, more than 50.000 visitors came to the fair which consists of 150 delightful stalls and dozens of thrilling demonstrations. Together with the WDC 2008, this year’s theme is Warm and Worldly. ‘Warm’ because the amiable and friendly atmosphere this year too was considered paramount. ‘Worldly’ because of the World Four-in-Hand Driving Championship; the world’s best four-in-hand drivers will be coming to the Betuwe in the beginning of September.

The Country Fair organizers have high expectations from being combined with the WDC 2008 Spokesperson Rianne Verhoef: “Our fair at Heerlijkheid Mariënwaerdt Country Estate is without doubt one of the finest and most enjoyable outdoor fairs in Holland. This year, the WDC 2008 will add another dimension. The expectation is that we will be welcoming 100,000 visitors- double that of last year.”

Heerlijkheid Mariënwaerdt Country Estate in Beesd is a fabulous estate in private ownership which has a very special ambiance. The estate is 900 hectares and contains gorgeous country houses, avenues, water gardens and a kitchen garden. At the fair there will be 150 stall holders with an enormous selection of goods varying from a choice of country produce to stylish clothing, gardening accessories and antiques. Additionally there will be exciting and surprising demonstrations with, among other things, Belgian cart horses, dogs and birds of prey.
For children there will be a hobby workshop, a children’s farm and a puppet theatre. On Wednesday 3 September, there will be a special Kids Day: when accompanied by a paying adult, children under 12 years old can come in for free and enjoy the opening of the WDC 2008 and the demonstrations in the main arena at the Country Fair.

Naturally the ‘inner person’ has not been forgotten at the WDC 2008 and the Country Fair: atmospheric outdoor cafes invite visitors to enjoy a snack and a drink. At the same time in the kitchen studio ‘De Nieuwe Refter’, the country estate chef will be making sample dishes prepared from the produce of the country estate. The gardens and kitchen garden of the Heerlijkheid Mariënwaerdt and Mariënwaerdt House will be open to visitors for guided tours during the event.

Rianne Verhoef: “Quality in the true sense of the word is for us very important. It is because of this, that we make a very careful selection from all those who apply to show at the fair. Only the stall holders with products or services that fit our concepts of the fair are invited to attend. In this way we can guarantee our visitors the quality and atmosphere that they expect from us.”

For more information and the complete demonstration programme and an overview of the stalls holders, please click on www.landgoedfair.nl. Tickets can be ordered via www.topticketline.nl.

Stall Holders responses

Anemone

Anemone Horse Trucks of Scherpenzeel supplies horse trucks and has a name to live up to in the equestrian world. “In principle, we concentrate on show jumping and dressage events but at a WDC 2008 Driving event in our own country we obviously must be present”, said Bert van Kooten of Anemone, which has a huge collection varying from simple vans for two horses to trucks for nine horses complete with luxury accomodation.
Van Kooten: “Anybody who has a horse is for us a potential customer. We make a living by equestrian sport so it’s logical that we support it across the board. We also work together with other suppliers: together we do our best for equestrian sport. At the WDC 2008 we have a stand of 50 X 50 metres with the whole range on show. When you buy from us you can have your van the next day; we have a supply of stocks.”

Stichting Het Geldersch Vierspan (The Gelderland Four-in-Hand Foundation)

Thanks to years of financial input from the Stichting Het Geldersch Vierspan, Hans Heus of Eerbeek is among the participants at the WDC 2008 Business relations and sponsors that have made this possible have been invited to visit the World Championships by the board membes of the foundation. At the event, they will be made welcome at a big marquee for a bite and a drink.
P.R-man Hans Aalbers of the Stichting Het Geldersch Vierspan: “Four or five years ago, a number of people took the initiative to support Hans Heus. Hans is a true amateur and exercises his sport as well as having a full-time job. We are extremely proud that he has been placed for the WDC 2008 and of course we all want to be there too. Hans’ chances? We’ve got to be realistic- a place among the top fifteen would be wonderful.”

Schuurman Hindernissen & Omheiningen (Obstacles and Fences)

Schuurman Hindernissen & Omheiningen of Hengelo, Gelderland is a regular stall holder at all the equestrian events- thus also at this WDC 2008 event. Co-owner Michel Hazeleger: “Competitions are for us what trade fairs are for other businesses. At this WDC 2008 alone we have put in 1,700 metres of fencing. And none of that cheap rubbish but really beautiful hardwood fencing. We think that horses shouldn’t be seen behind barbed wire or crush barriers; they should have decent, smart wooden fencing.”
Horse fans know Schuurman Hindernissen & Omheiningen and, according to Michel Hazeleger, the Country Fair will open the door to new sales “Recently we have been making hardwood gates and probably the visitors to the fair will be very interested. In any case, it’s going to be a beautiful week and a week of beautiful sport. And for us it could be that the W.C, because it is combined with the Country Fair, is going to be commercially very interesting.”

Merchandising WDC 2008 articles

No WDC 2008 without special WDC 2008 articles and that goes for the global competition for titles for driving at the beginning of September in Beesd as well. Among many other things in the assortment are polo-shirts, bodywarmers, ties, caps, stickers, beer glasses and umbrellas: all printed with the WDC 2008 logo. The rights for the merchandising have been purchased by Marie de Ronde, member of the board of the organizing committee of the WDC 2008 and during the competition reponsible for the competition secretariaat.
Marie de Ronde: “We have already been at a lot of events and things ae going well. They are nice products at an affordable price. A World Championships is unusual and you notice that people would like to have a souvenir to remember it by.”
At the WDC 2008 the articles are for sale immediately where you enter the grounds. The sales are in three tents combined with the WDC 2008Information kiosk, the Mariënwaerdt boutique and the sales point for the Heerlijkheid magazine. Marie de Ronde: “A perfect spot- the visitors can’t miss us.”