When the first sunlight touches the Provence hills, a silence falls over every marathon fancier who knows what’s coming. Marseille is not a race for the lucky, it’s a test of will, instinct, and endurance. The route cuts through the notorious Rhône Valley, where the warm Mistral winds twist and roar, turning the sky into a battlefield. One wrong line and the pigeon disappears into nothingness. Yet right there, in that merciless air, the brothers from Berkenwoude wrote history during Marseille 2025.
Their hen NL.21-1210350 defied heat, sidewinds, and darkness, flying herself into immortality with a phenomenal result: 1st Marseille 2025 FBZ & SNZH – 967 km – 05:50:21 – 975 m/min. The only pigeon that night to break through, slicing the dawn like a shadow over the Provence sky.
The Winning Hen
NL.21-1210350, hen from Gebr. de Vreede, is a modern marathon pigeon built on pure Barcelona class: From the line of “Komeet” and “Ramblas” lines on the sire’s side and the proven golden pair “Mr. Fantastic” x “Ms. Perfect” on the dam’s side. The pedigree carries hard evidence—Barcelona references via “De Komeet” (noted 74/5239) and deep over-night reliability with “Ms. Perfect” scoring 8/9, reinforced by the national class of “De Bordeaux,” 1st Nat. Bordeaux ZLU ’99. In short: a clean, no-nonsense foundation piece for ZLU and heavy marathon work, ideal to strengthen any breeding loft aiming for stamina, orientation, and repeatable results.
The Race That Reveals True Character
Within the ZLU calendar, Marseille stands in a league of its own. Its start in the deep south of France creates a route full of traps: first the dry plateau above Avignon, then the narrow Rhône Valley, a natural corridor where air currents shift by the minute. With an eastern or northeastern wind, pigeons are pushed back into the valley. With headwind, they must claw their way upward, fighting turbulence and fatigue all at once. And even after Lyon, another 800 kilometers of open, dry land await, ruthless to any sign of weakness.
Marseille exposes the essence of a true marathon pigeon. Only those with iron muscles, a calm mind, and an unshakable compass find home. That Herman and John de Vreede triumphed here says everything about their pigeons, and about their vision.
Two Brothers, A Son, One Vision
Herman,John and Casper de Vreede are not men of noise. Their language is the quiet rhythm of wings at dawn. In Berkenwoude, discipline reigns like a creed. Every pigeon is managed as an athlete, with precise feeding, balanced rest, consistent training, and above all, constant observation.
Their philosophy is crystal clear: a marathon pigeon must fly with intelligence, recover with speed, and believe that home lies further than yesterday. No fashion strains. No quick fixes. Only hard selection and proven bloodlines that earn their place.
The Iron Foundation
Their loft stands on the shoulders of giants. The legendary “Mr. Fantastic”, four-time top-100 National performer, set the standard for character and orientation. Added to that, the “De Lamme” line of Van der Wegen — a bloodline synonymous with strength and staying power on hot, punishing flights.
From this fusion came pigeons that don’t just handle distance — they master it. NL21-1210350 is one of them: brave enough to attack the night, strong enough to outfly the Rhône.
Her loftmate NL20-1512531 underlined the same quality, ranking top 1–6% International on Pau, Narbonne, and again Marseille — proof that at Berkenwoude, performance is no coincidence but the result of deliberate breeding.
And not to forget: NL.19-1622538 was ZLU Ace Pigeon Barcelona 2024 (at 4 years old) and comes from the Peaceman line. Many top pigeons have been bred from this line, including 08-1478608 (among others 5th National Bergerac and 2011 Ace Pigeon S.N.Z.H.), the Barcelona ZLU Ace Pigeon 2024, Lucas Vokurka’s 21-1210327 (2nd Sector 2 Tarbes 2024), and Dax 2025 23-9328501 (10th Sector 2, same father as the Marseille winner, 501 full brother 327).
The Victory on Marseille 2025
Basketing took place under typical Marseille conditions: dry air, shimmering heat, and a shifting southeastern wind. Many predicted a slow, unpredictable race, and they were right.
After liberation on Friday morning, the pigeons broke away in small clusters. By evening, it was clear: this edition would be brutal. Headwinds, high temperatures, and drift toward Switzerland made it a contest of pure courage.
While most fanciers rested, Herman and John kept watch. At 05:50:21, the antenna clicked. One pigeon. They looked at each other — disbelief, then realization. NL21-1210350 had flown through the night, right up the Rhône, landing in Berkenwoude before the rest of Holland had even stirred.
A Loft in Form
Nine pigeons entered. Six in the result. That kind of ratio doesn’t happen by luck. It’s form, system, and management working in harmony.
The brothers select hard: every bird must face at least two international races each season. Those who can’t, go. Their system is traditional yet razor-sharp, clean grains, daily bath, fresh air, and rest. No cocktail of additives. Just trust in natural condition and relentless consistency.
“Our pigeons must not only fly,” John says, “they must endure — and still keep searching for home.”
The Power of Berkenwoude
The influence of their breeding now reaches far beyond Zuid-Holland. Take ‘Kavinsky’ from Lucas Vokurka — 1st National St. Vincent Sector 2 (2024) and 2nd fastest pigeon of the Netherlands, bred directly from De Vreede blood. Out of an inbred son of Mr. Fantastic paired to a daughter of the De Lamme line. Proof that Berkenwoude genes don’t just compete — they dominate.
The Crown on Dedication
After six heavy ZLU flights, their name stands proudly atop the FBZ championship. For Herman and John, it’s no accident — it’s the crown on decades of devotion to a craft that few truly master.
Gebr. de Vreede did not win Marseille 2025 by chance or speed. They won by system, vision, and respect for the pigeon itself.
Their birds don’t fly for one day.
They fly for eternity.
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss