Klootschieten ("Ball shooting" in English) is a sport in the Netherlands. In the game, participants try to throw a ball (the kloot) as far as they can. It is most popular in Twente and Achterhoek.

There are three styles: field, street and standing (veld, straat and zetten).

In Germany a sport similar to field style Klootschieten is played, named "Boßeln" (Bosseln), while Klootschießen is the German name for the standing style. It is primarilly played along the coast and borders of North Germany, such as in Ostfriesland, Oldenburg, Butjadingen, Dithmarschen, Nordfriesland, Emsland, and Grafschaft Bentheim. It is also played in some parts of the USA by German and Dutch immigrants.

Field

In the field (veld) version of Klootschieten, it is the intention, alone or in a team, to reach a particular patch of grass and/or sand in as few throws as possible (similar in this respect to golf. The course contains curves and variations of height (small hills and valleys and such), so that skill as well as strength is an important factor.

The field kloot is a round ball of wood or synthetic material, made heavier with lead. The diameter of the kloot is mostly between the 7 and 8 centimeters, but these can deviate according to the preference of the particpants. There is a minimum diameter of 5 centimeters.

Street

In the street (straat) version of Klootschieten, the rules are approximately the same as in the field, only the course (being a street) and the ball (being heavier) are different. An important consideration is to keep the ball in the very center of the street, or it can very easily end up in the ditch or gutter, etc., which would obviously reduce the distance of ones "shoot".

Setting

The goal in the standing or setting (zetten) style is to see how far the ball can travel in the air. Thus the measure of the throw ends at the point where the ball hits the ground (in contrast to the field and street variants).

European championship

In May 2004, the European Championship was shot in Westerstede, Germany.

At the adult level, the German FKB (Friesischer Klootschießer Connection) won all competitions. The individual winners:

• Catriona O`Farrell (women's, veld)
• Rena Ahlrichs (women's, straat)
• Ute Uhrbrook (women's, zetten)
• Dirk Taddigs (men's, veld)
• Henning Feyen (men's, straat)
• Stefan Albarus (men's, zetten)

See also

• Boules
• Irish Road Bowling

External links

Dutch

• Officiële site van de Nederlandse Klootschieterbond (NKB)
• Site van het EK 2004

German

• http://www.nordwestreisemagazin.de/bosseln.htm
• Webseite des Friesischen Klootschießer-Verbands
• Boßelregeln
• High-Light-Cup: Großes Preisgeldturnier in Friesland

Ball games

Boßeln | Boßeln | Klootschieten | Klootscheetn