About Jaap Eden

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