Aalsmeer – On Wednesday evening, November 13, it was very busy in the beautiful canteen of FC Aalsmeer. While football was still being played outside, the participating teams in the Battle of Aalsmeer were welcomed. Every year the two Aalsmeer Lions clubs organize this smart and fun Lions business game to raise funds for charities. This game is about cooperation and knowledge within teams. No fewer than thirty (record!) teams of five people participated in this seventh edition, including many ‘old acquaintances’ but fortunately also many new faces.
Questions in all kinds of areas
After a delicious Italian buffet, the 150 participants enthusiastically worked for eighty minutes with many, sometimes tough questions in all kinds of areas, with a new series presented every 4 minutes. Nice to see that the teams were also working quite fanatically to achieve the highest score. Also because the standings were regularly reported during the match. After the final bell, the jury had its hands full with correctly assessing all the answers because the results were very close together!
The FIQAS Software team ended up as the clear winner, followed by the team from the Municipality of Aalsmeer as runner-up! With a very minimal difference of 0.2 points, the Qultura Management & Quality team finished in third place. The other teams that finished in the top ten were: Beheer FC Aalsmeer, MJK Advies, Paramedisch Advies Centrum Aalsmeer, Fysio & Fitness Kudelstaart, Ubink Cactus & Succulent, Green BalanZ and Berghoef Accountants en Adviseurs. The poodle prize that went to Gomes’ team last year was this time reserved for Aannemersbedrijf Van Der Driftbouw, while Gomes now finished in 26th place. So there is progress there!
Check for Scouting Tiflo
After the game, Paul de Waal from Tiflo spoke passionately about the purpose for which the €6,250 check will be used. Tiflo has long used the guard ship MS d’Artagnan (1900) as a meeting place during camps, hikes and sailing and rowing competitions. This striking ship – sailing heritage on our Aalsmeerse Poel – naturally requires regular maintenance. Despite a lot of work done by our own volunteers, specialized companies also have to work on the ship and that is expensive. Tiflo will use the Lions donation to cover the costs of the slipway for the (re)inspection and the much-needed welding work on the underwater hull.
Sunflower Aalsmeer-Rijsenhout
De Zonnebloem Aalsmeer-Rijsenhout was pleased to receive a check for € 2,750. Jos Bergk then talked about the De Zonnebloem foundation – around 30,000 volunteers throughout the Netherlands – that offers attention and company to people with mobility limitations. People see each other again through visits and pleasant gatherings such as a visit to the museum terrace, eating pancakes, high tea and a party afternoon with games and music. This Zonnebloem department will spend the donation on, among other things, the organization of – in addition to the annual boat trip – also a special bus trip next year.
The ladies and gentlemen of both clubs – Lionsclub Aalsmeer Ophelia and Lionsclub Aalsmeer – worked hard all evening and with great pleasure to ensure all guests had a pleasant evening. We chatted and networked for a long time while enjoying a drink. Of course, many thanks to FC Aalsmeer for the wonderful hospitality. Given the many positive reactions, there will undoubtedly be a new ‘Battle of Aalsmeer’ in November 2025.
Photo: ‘Battle of Aalsmeer’ with mayor Gido Oude Kotte in 2023.
