In Gennep, Mat Janssen dreams. In Romania, fanciers can now literally click on that dream.

On Columbofil.net there is currently a Premium auction with ten youngsters from his unique breeding programme. Officially the title says “Licitatie Premium cu 10 porumbei oferiti de Gebr. Janssen – Olanda”. In reality, this is the work of one man and one vision: Mat Janssen, the dreamer with the genetic goldmine in Gennep.

You are not looking at a random clearance sale. This is a small, sharp selection. Ten pigeons. Premium. And a Roemanian top platform putting them in the spotlight. That already tells you a lot about the level.

From Gennep to Romania

Columbofil does not present this as “just another auction”. It is a Premium auction, deliberately limited to ten pigeons. Ten spots on the stage, not a hundred chairs on the square. That says everything about the intention.

In the Romanian description Columbofil makes it even clearer. Buyers get the chance to obtain descendants of some of the best pigeons from lofts such as Verweij de Haan, Arjan Beens and PWA van der Meulen. These are names the whole of Europe is fighting over. In Gennep those lines are carefully combined in Mat’s breeding base. In Romania they are now for sale to the highest bidder.

The fact that a Romanian platform of this size implicitly describes his collection as one of the most impressive around is not a small detail. It is international recognition. And it is not coming from Mat himself, but from people who make their living evaluating and selling pigeons.

Why this auction really matters

For years Mat has been building a breeding colony you can honestly call exceptional. Direct children and close family of the PWA van der Meulen long distance engines. Blood from Verweij de Haan around Milos, Red Rose and Grace. Genes from Arjan Beens for hard, attacking racing. On top of that the lines of people like Robin Bakhuis, Piet de Vogel, Team de Hoogh and Chris Debacker.

These are not just pretty names for a pedigree. These are families that fill national result sheets and international rankings on the heaviest races and in the One Loft scene. Mat did not gather those genes to admire them. He gathered them to build with them. His breeding programme is set up like a high performance project. Conscious pairings, strict selection, logical structure. No guessing.

That philosophy is exactly what you see reflected in this Columbofil auction. Only ten pigeons, presented as Premium. No container full of birds where you have to dig for that one good one, but a compact selection where every pigeon has a clear reason to be there.

Overview of the pigeons on offer

Each of these ten youngsters comes with a DNA test and guaranteed sex. Below you have them lined up in a way that actually means something in a breeding loft.

Lot 1 – NL.25-1138545 “DE 545”
Inbred directly to the base breeders of PWA van der Meulen. Built on Crack 61, sire of “De Bergerac” and a 1st National Barcelona, and on 823-05, whose line produced among others 1st Nat Barcelona 2018, 2022, 2023 and 1st Nat Bergerac 2019. A fantastic origin for anyone who wants to anchor their loft in this legendary marathon family. DNA tested and sex guaranteed.
Lot 2 – NL.25- 1138544 “DE 544”
Hen, sister to 68th and 77th in the OLR Derby Carmelo 2025 final. The mother is Canela, a proven top performer at the OLR Derby Arona Tenerife. She claimed 2nd Grand Average in the International King of the Atlantic and sealed her class with a 7th prize in the 2022 final. Pure quality, tested at the highest level. Great granddaughter of Joe Frazier, a champion with top performances in the European Cup marathon, NPO Cahors, Bergerac and St Vincent. At the same time great granddaughter of Blue Dusk, international and national marathon Ace Pigeon with a string of top classifications on Perpignan and St Vincent. A hen that combines OLR reference with an elite long distance pedigree. DNA tested and sex guaranteed.
Lot 3 – NL.25-1138542 “DE 542”
Double grandson of Milos, 1st NPO Montauban 1,862 pigeons and one of the key breeders in the Verweij de Haan loft. Also grandson of Red Rose, National Ace Perpignan ZLU and European and international top bird on Pau and Perpignan, and grandson of Grace, 9th Nat Marseille. Pure Verweij de Haan power for national long distance and heavy day races. DNA tested and sex guaranteed.
Lot 4 – NL25-1138539 “DE 539”
Another inbred product to the PWA van der Meulen base. Again built on Crack 61 and 823-05, the stem behind multiple 1st Nat Barcelona and 1st Nat Bergerac winners. For fanciers who seriously want to build a family around this line, this cock is a logical cornerstone. DNA tested and sex guaranteed.
Lot 5 – NL25-1138534 “DE 534”
Hen with three world class names in one body. Granddaughter of Adwin, whose descendants won more than 120x 1st prize and multiple huge NPO and provincial races. Granddaughter of Lizenke, 1st NPO Châteaudun 6,277 pigeons and dam of several 1st prize winners and provincial top results. On top of that granddaughter of Gerik, Best Pigeon of Belgium over 5 long distance races in 2023, 1st Nat Aurillac, 4th Nat Ace KBDB and a whole row of strong results. A real base hen for anyone who wants current long distance class in their stock. DNA tested and sex guaranteed.
Lot 6 – NL25-1138532 “DE 532”
Daughter of “Super Race 879”, 14th (extra) in the Derby Carmelo Yupi OLR final over 720 km and first Dutch pigeon on the day in 8 hours and 29 minutes. She is also granddaughter of Mr Gijs, sire and grandsire of among others 1st Nat Marathon Ace Netherlands 2020 and 1st Nat Bergerac 25,628 pigeons. Added to that she carries the blood of Zeus, 18th Nat Barcelona, and Evi, with national top results on Barcelona and Perpignan. A top combination of hard OLR performance and proven marathon genetics. DNA tested and sex guaranteed.
Lot 7 – NL25-1138525 “DE 525”
Grandson of “De Bergerac”, 1st Nat Bergerac 24,043 pigeons in 2019. At the same time grandson of Crack 61 and of Barcelona Girl, 1st Nat Barcelona Ace and 5th Nat Barcelona 2021. He also carries the line of 824-14, 32nd Nat Barcelona and grandmother of the 1st Nat Barcelona 2022 of P. Goeree. A cock dripping with national long distance references. DNA tested and sex guaranteed.
Lot 8 – NL25-1138523 “DE 523”
Granddaughter of Mr Gijs, again the sire and grandsire behind 1st Nat Marathon Ace Netherlands 2020 and 1st Nat Bergerac 25,628 pigeons. Granddaughter of Barcelona Duivin, 1st Nat Ace Perpignan 2016–2018. On top of that granddaughter of Golden Rico, sire and grandsire of several provincial wins and high national and NPO placings, and granddaughter of Lotte, a super breeding hen and dam of among others 1st NPO Chateauroux 3,147 pigeons and 2nd Nat Chateauroux. One of the most versatile hens in this auction for both marathon and heavy middle distance. DNA tested and sex guaranteed.
Lot 9 – NL25-1138511 “DE 511”
Inbred granddaughter to Mr Gijs, stacked on his marathon genes. Also granddaughter of De 69, a cock with strong NPO results on Bergerac and Libourne and 8th Nat Marathon Ace in the PIPA ranking. On top of that granddaughter of Barcelona Duivin. A genetically concentrated long distance package for fanciers who want to build a clear family around these key pigeons. DNA tested and sex guaranteed.
Lot 10 – NL25-1138510 “DE 510”
Inbred grandson to Mr Gijs, again combined with De 69 and Barcelona Duivin. The male counterpart to lot 9, ideal to use later as a pair or within a family system around this combination. Fully backed by national and international references and of course DNA tested and sex guaranteed.

The bridge between West and East

For Romanian fanciers this auction is a direct highway to West European top blood. Instead of waiting years to “maybe get hold of something”, they can bid here on youngsters that carry the same genes European marathon and OLR winners are built on. For Mat it is a logical step. He does not think in terms of club, small region or only one country. He thinks in terms of an international sport where OLRs and national classics increasingly flow into each other.

It is especially interesting that this sale takes place in Romania. That country is moving fast in the pigeon sport. New lofts, strong OLRs, a lot of ambition. By putting ten pigeons from his Gennep base on the table there, Mat helps to push that scene a step higher. At the same time he shows that his breeding programme is broad enough to matter internationally.

The clock is ticking, auction is ending soon (23/12-25)!

Columbofil clearly communicates when this Premium auction closes. This is not something to “check next weekend”. This is the kind of auction where you open the link now, go through the details calmly, decide which pigeon fits your breeding plan and put in your maximum bid on time.

The direct link: https://www.columbofil.net/index.php?act=licitatii&id=2588

At the time of writing there are already active bids on all lots. Prices show clearly that the market has recognised the value of this collection. The window is open, but it will close.

Good for Mat, good for you, good for the sport

The beauty of this auction is that everyone can win from it. Mat strengthens his international reach and creates new reference opportunities in a hungry market. Buyers in Romania and beyond get direct access to a breeding base that normally flows mainly through West European auction channels. And the sport gains an extra story.

A story about a dreamer from Gennep who builds his breeding loft in such a way that fanciers in another country can bring their own dream closer. Not with nice talk, but with genes that have already stood on the biggest stages.

Whether you will be part of that story is your choice. The auction is online. The clock is running. You have the link.