RegionEdel Aero dry hockey sytem approved for the Dutch market
Edel Grass is taking an important step towards making hockey more sustainable. Edel Aero has been officially approved for the Dutch market and included to the Sports products list within Sports Infrastructure. An initiative by BSNC, NOC*NSF, VSG and the KNHB.
This means that Edel Aero is now recognised as a fully developed and applicable dry field hockey system that compliant with standards within the Netherlands.
Innovation procedure Dry Hockey
Because in the Netherlands ‘dry hockey products’ needed to become listed on the ‘Sports Products List’ within a new to develop dry category; first an assessment procedure had to be followed to determine the scope. Until this new category was established, the market only recognised sand, semi-water and water-based pitches.
The innovation procedure of the dry category and products was initiated by NOC*NSF, KNHB and VSG, with a focus on playing quality, performance and sustainability. After evaluations, the programme council has now given positive assessment feedback on the implementation of dry pitches in the Netherlands, adopting almost all of the recommendations!
Edel Aero: Dry-to-Play™
Edel Aero is our first innovative, Dry-to-Play TM hockey surface that delivers top performance without water. The system combines proven yarn technology with advanced hockey innovation.
Thanks to its robust, intensely textured fibres and compact production, Edel Aero is the densest and most durable dry hockey system on the market. Already in 2024, Edel Aero became available as FIH certified system for international markets. Now also approved and free to choose for hockeyclubs across the Netherlands.
Successful pilot phase in 2025
In 2025, five Edel Aero fields have already been built within the Dutch innovation procedure. These field were technically moitored and tested periodically and also a player survey was conducted. Over 100 individual players rated their Edel Aero pitch with an 8.5 average!
Edel Grass thanks below hockey clubs fort heir choice to install an Edel Aero Dry-to-Play™ hockey pitch under restrictions of the innovation procedure and their participation in collecting relevant data.
- HC Montfoort
- HC Cranendonck
- HC Doetinchem
- HC Groen-Geel
- HC Steenwijk
Conserving water
The transition to waterless or ‘dry’ hockey pitches represents a major change for the sport. For years, hockey players were accustomed to the feel of water-based pitches. These however consume a considerable amount of water.
With Edel Aero, Edel Grass offers a first innovative and now thoroughly tested alternative that completely eliminates water requirement. They hereby and thus responds to an increasingly important sustainability challenge within the sports sector and beyond.
With this approval and successful installations, Edel Grass confirms its role as an innovation partner for future-proof sports infrastructure.
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