It's a cold morning on February 3, 2025. In the clubhouse of the local pigeon racing association, I sit with a steaming cup of coffee in my hand. I glance at the membership list in front of me, and the numbers speak volumes: 12,245 members. Fewer than last year. Again, fewer.
I take a deep breath. I still remember how it used to be. Twenty years ago, when the clubhouse was bustling with passionate fanciers. Where the scent of pigeon feed and cigars blended with the murmur of discussions about upcoming races. Where young enthusiasts listened in awe to the stories of seasoned veterans. But now? Now I see empty chairs. Too many empty chairs.
A Downward Spiral
The official numbers are in: a 4.6% decline compared to last year. I don’t even need to check the newspaper to know what it will say. Regions 2, 3, 4, and 7 have been hit the hardest. Some members voluntarily quit, others simply disappear. And the biggest blow? The loneliness that remains. Because a drop in membership doesn’t just mean less competition—it means less camaraderie, less unity. Less pigeon racing.
Some regions, like 10, 9, and 11, are holding on better. But for how much longer? How long before they, too, start to crumble? I shake my head. I know what the problem is. It’s not the pigeons. It’s not the sport. The problem is the people.
Self-Destruction
Every week, I read the same stories: feuds within clubs, regions tearing each other down, endless debates about regulations, doping tests, race programs. And then there are the public scandals. The constant gossip and complaints that eat away at the sport from the inside like a parasite. What was once a noble and proud tradition has now become a battlefield of egos and self-interests.
I stare out the window. In the distance, I see my loft, where my pigeons rest calmly on the perch. They still fly. They feel no politics, no hatred, no division. They know only the freedom of the sky and the instinct to return home. Why can’t we humans be the same?
The Future: Salvation or Collapse?
The numbers don’t lie. If things continue like this, membership will keep shrinking. And I know what happens next: fewer races, fewer clubs, fewer young people joining. Until the moment comes when nothing is left.
Is there still hope? Maybe. If people like me stand up. If the negativity stops. If clubs become communities again, rather than battlegrounds. If pigeon fanciers unite instead of tearing each other down. Maybe then, there’s still a chance.
I take the last sip of my coffee and stand up. I have an idea. Tonight, I’ll call the chairman. Not to complain. Not to argue. But to talk. To look for a solution. Because one thing is certain: I don’t want to be part of the last generation to experience this beautiful sport.
The only question is… how many others feel the same way?
Yours In Racing Pigeon Passion
Jan de Wijs
The Real Pigeon Boss
Add comment
Comments
Hoi hoi wij hebben via de app wel eens contact gehad .Ik denk vooral dat het geld de sport verziekt en de bereidwilligheid van ervaren duivenmelkers niet hun kunsten willen delen met nieuwkomers medere mensen gecontact of ik kon helpen om daarmee wat kennis op te doen
Dus voor nieuwkomers zoals ik is het heel moeilijk om te starten .
Denk dat daar het grote probleem ligt
Ik gaat me hok bouwen en kom er toch wel uit met een beetje hulp van de club .
En het gebrek aan jeugd is al net zo moeilijk om ze erbij te krijgen de clubs hebben bijna allemaal slechte websites en zijn moeilijk te bekijken.
Dit zijn allemaal dingen waarom het alleen maar minder wordt,gr ted