The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® European Trophy will kick off the international season in spectacular fashion on Sunday 17th August, with the best athletes from across Europe set to battle it out in Lage Vuursche, in the heart of the Netherlands, just outside Amsterdam. As ever, the stakes are high, with a place in the 2026 World Trophy on the line for the top 10 finishers. When the chips are down, who will rise to the chop?
The 2025 European Trophy will take place on Sunday 17th August in the village of Lage Vuursche, bringing together the best athletes from across the continent in an intense battle for European glory, as well as qualification for the 2026 World Trophy.
Held as the centrepiece of the popular Dutch woodchopping festival, Houthakkersfeest, the 2025 European Trophy promises a thrilling day of elite-level competition as the continent’s top logger sports athletes go head-to-head in a knockout format. Starting at 2:00pm CEST, the contest will be streamed live on the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Facebook, YouTube and Twitch channels.
One weekend, four championships, nonstop action
The TIMBERSPORTS® European Trophy headlines a packed weekend of competitive woodchopping in Lage Vuursche, with the BeNeLux Pro Championship as well as the Women’s and Rookie Cups taking place the day before, on Saturday 16th August.
The European Trophy will showcase elite athletes competing in four iconic TIMBERSPORTS® disciplines: Stock Saw, Underhand Chop, Single Buck, and Standing Block Chop. Each round sees athletes go head-to-head, with only the best earning the right to compete on the global stage at the World Trophy in 2026 - one slip, and it’s chop-chop, you're out.
Dutch and Belgian heroes hoping to carve out a victory
The Netherlands' own Redmer Knol, European Trophy Champion of 2023, will be aiming to thrill the home crowd with another dominant display, and already has his eyes set on victory:
“My ultimate goal is to win both the national Championship and European Trophy and qualify for the World Championship and World Trophy.”
Belgium’s 18-year-old Rookie World Championship silver medallist, Kamiel van Raemdonck, also has his eyes set on a good result this time around – as does his Belgian compatriot, Koen Martens, who’s also hoping to make a statement on Dutch soil.
Challenging these athletes will be some of Europe’s most formidable talents, including defending champion and tournament favourite, Poland’s Michał Dubicki, and his young rival, Szymon Groenwald, who was Rookie World Champion back in 2023.
Sweden’s top athletes, Emil Hansson and Ferry Svan, will be representing their nation at this year’s event. Despite being just 24 years old, Hansson is already one of the strongest athletes in Europe. He won the European Trophy back in 2022, then going on to take silver at the Individual World Championships in 2023. Svan finished second in last year’s European Trophy in Bellinzona, but has his sights set on the title at this year’s event.
Further additions to this year’s roster include Germany’s Danny Martin, 37, who took Bronze at the Individual World Championships back in 2023, and Switzerland’s Oliver Reinhard, who finished in 10th place overall in last year’s World Trophy. The full line-up is available on the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® database.
