PINKSTER TOURNAMENT 2024 GUIDE
WELCOME
Welcome to the 30th edition of the Pinkster Tournament 2024 in Amsterdam.
In this guide you will find all the information you need for an amazing weekend. Please check it out thoroughly to prevent confusion.
program
16:00 – 18:00 Openings Clinic
Each year we invite our sponsors to take part in the openings clinic of the Pinkster Tournament. Smashing Pink’s main trainer Cindy creates a welcoming atmosphere, even for those who have never held a racket in their hands before.
18:00 – 22:00 Welcome drink & Registration Players
We would like to invite all participants to join our welcome drink at the tennis venue. Here you have the possibility to meet old and new friends, show gratitude to some of our sponsors and set the tone for the rest of the tournament. We’ll treat everyone with a free glass of bubbles!
This is also the perfect time for you to register your presence for the tournament and to receive your PNKSTR Goodie Bag.
19:00 – 22:00 Opening toss
Let’s be real: we’re all here to play tennis. And because we know so many of you can’t wait to set foot on the courts we organise a toss to get the party going. In rounds of 30 minutes you’ll be able to meet and play with other players and start making new friends.
08:30 – 23:00 Tennis matches
The first matches of the tournament are starting!
11:00 – 17:00 Warming up lessons
We are teaming up with We Are Queer Gym in Amsterdam to guide all our participants into a more healthy tennis lifestyle. While playing a GLTA tournament, it’s important to take good care of your body. The coaches of We Are Queer Gym will help you with warming up, cooling down and stretching after your matches.
Follow their classes on the following time slots:
11:00 – 11:15
12:30 – 12:45
14:00 – 14:15
15:30 – 15:45
17:00 – 22:00 Community market
To showcase all that Amsterdam has to bring to the LGBTQIA+ community, we’re inviting several queer-owned businesses to showcase their product, service or organisation.
08:30 – 19:00 Tennis matches
After the first successful day of playing tennis we make ourselves ready for yet another day!
20:00 – 01:00 Players Dinner & Party
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Pinkster Tournament, we eagerly invite all of you to celebrate this milestone together during the Players Dinner & Party. To do so we organised a beautiful and unique location to come together and enjoy each others company.
Location: PONG Bar
Jan van Galenstraat 315, 1056 CB Amsterdam
08:30 – 23:00 Tennis matches
After an amazing night the sun comes up early and invites us for the third day of tennis matches.
09:00 – 15:00 Tennis matches
On this final day, the winners of the 30th Pinkster Tournament in Amsterdam will emerge and claim their triumph. For those who have completed their matches, we extend a warm invitation to join us in cheering on your fellow participants.
15:00 – 16:00 Winners ceremony
Time to celebrate all the talent that GLTA has to offer. With beautiful trophies and some last goodbyes. The Pinkster Tournament comes to an end. Hope to see you all next year!
our sponsors
We would like to encourage all players to join the following dutch tradition
Next to being competitive, the Pinkster Tournament is also a social event where you get to see your friends and meet new ones. It is a Dutch tradition to have a drink with your opponent(s) after a match. It gives you the chance to calm down after that competitive buzz, share a laugh together on that one silly mistake you made during a point and to get to know eachother a bit better.
Oh, and to sooth the pain: the winner pays for the drinks ;).
WARM UP WITH WE ARE QUEER
Together with We Are Queer Gym in Amsterdam we created these videos to help you with your warm up routine. With all the tennis matches you play during a GLTA tournament it is important to take good care of your body.
Let’s stay healthy together and prevent injuries!
CLASSES ON FRIDAY
On Friday you’ll be able to follow a warm up class hosted by the trainers of the We Are Queer Gym. They’ll help you get started with a warm up routine, teach all the ins and outs and answer any questions you might have.
Follow their classes on the following time slots:
11:00 – 11:15
12:30 – 12:45
14:00 – 14:15
15:30 – 15:45
The location of these classes is inside court 13. Enter via the restaurant.
Location
Address
Koenenkade 8
1081 KH, Amsterdam
The Pinkster Tournament takes place at Amstelpark Tennis Centre.
NO CASH, CARDS ONLY
Please note that you are not able to pay with cash at the park and at the tournament. Only when you book a massage, you can pay cash directly to the masseur.
At the Amstelpark Clubhouse, the options for payment are by bank, debit or credit card.
Travel information
By car
On the Amsterdam ring road A10 take exit S 108. At the end of the exit turn left. Follow Amstelveenseweg until you have the entry of Amsterdamse Bos on your right. You will find a parking on your right. Note it’s a paid parking space!
Bus
Bus 62, 242, 246, 341, 346, 347, 357: get out at VU Medical Centre. From there it is a 10 min. walk in southern direction on the Amstelveenseweg to Koenenkade.
Check times and details for all public transport in the Netherlands at www.9292.nl. With an OV-chipcard you can travel in tram, bus, metro and train. You can buy an OV-chipcard at Tobacco shops and any supermarket or in the ticket machines at the train station. Cost €7,50 and you have to charge it with the amount you want. Use the card to check in when you enter the transport and don’t forget to check out when you leave it.
Metro / Tram
Line 50: get out at stop Amstelveenseweg and walk 10 min. in southern direction to Koenenkade.
Line 51: get out at stop Amstelveenseweg and walk 10 min. in southern direction to Koenenkade.
Line 52: (from Central Station) travel to Amsterdam Zuid and take line 50 or 51 to stop Amstelveenseweg and walk 10 min. in southern direction to Koenenkade.
Tram 24: get out at stop Vu Medical Centre. From there it is a 10 min. Walk in southern direction to Koenenkade.
DINNER & PARTY
WE INVITE YOU TO PONGBAR
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Pinkster Tournament, we eagerly invite all of you to celebrate this milestone together during the Players Dinner & Party. To do so we organised a beautiful and unique location to come together and enjoy each others company.
Make sure to get your tickets on time, as there are limited spots available. If you don’t have tickets yet, you can get them at the registration desk.
€40 for participants. €50 for friends/family.
Pongbar will provide us with various courses during a walking dinner. A selection of Asian street food, along with some classic snacks, offers something for every enthusiast. The cocktails and craft beers are irresistibly delicious and complement the food perfectly.
Afterwards Pongbar turns into a perfect for location for us to show our best dance moves. And next to that you’ll be able to utilize your tennis skills in a fun game of pingpong!
Directions from Amstelpark to PONG Bar
– 10 minute walk to Metrostation Amstelveenseweg
– Take metro 50 or 51 in direction of Isolatorweg
– Get out at Metrostation Jan van Galenstraat (4 stops in between)
– 10 minute walk to PONG Bar.
Address: Jan van Galenstraat 315
LOttery
This year you’ll be able to win free entries to multiple, high in demand, GLTA-tournaments! We’re happy to announce our partnership with these tournaments and hope that together we can contribute to a more kindhearted world for our LGBTQIA+ family.
These are the free entries you’ll be able to win:
– Ljubljana, Slovenië 2024 – men only
– Zurich, Rainbow Open 2024 – all genders
– 18 Aug
– Algarve, Portugal 2024 – men only
19 Sept 2024 – 22 Sept 2024
– Antwerpen, Brilliant Games 2024 – all genders
1 Nov 2024 – 3 Nov 2024
– Dutch Lesbian Open 2025 – women only
2 Jan 2025 – 5 Jan 2025
– London, The Crown 2025 – all genders
Ticketprice:
2x tickets €5
5x tickets €10
Get your tickets at the Registration Desk or Tournament Desk.
Lottery will be held during the players dinner at PONG bar on Saturday evening. If you’re not attending the players dinner, you can still join the lottery. The winning tickets will be published after the dinner.
Outreach program
Join the Pinkster Tournament’s tradition of global LGBTQIA+ support. Each year, our outreach program promotes a cause fighting for equal rights in less accepting regions. We raise funds to show solidarity and offer support to our LGBTQIA+ family worldwide. Help us make a difference and build a more inclusive world.
This year our outreach program is focusing on two organisations: Queertopia and Pride & Sports. The money that will be raised will be evenly divided between both parties.
Massage - Marie Cecile
Marie Cecile van Riel is a physiotherapist and masseur. During the Pinkster Tournament she will be available to take away all your little pains and aches to relax your body after (or before) your matches. Or while away for the weekend why not treat yourself with a relaxing massage. As a physio she is there as well for medical taping, advice and treatment.
Marie Cecile welcomes you for your 30 minutes massage (or longer) or a physio consult on:
• Friday 17th 12.00 – 20.30 hrs
• Saturday 18th 10.00 – 19.00 hrs
• Sunday 19th 10.00 – 19.00 hrs
• Monday 20th 10.00 – 16.00 hrs
It’s only €30.00 per 30 minutes (Please pay Marie Cecile directly in cash).
You can book a longer session if you want or need it.
Please secure your spot by filling in your name on the list at the registration desk.
Note: Please bring your own towel.
BAD WEATHER ALTERNATIVES
In the event of light rain, players are expected to continue playing. Play will only be suspended where the referee deems it necessary.
In case of bad weather which result in not able to play outdoors on clay, the tournament director may choose any way it deems necessary to finish the tournament by the scheduled time. This in line with the GLTA rules. In these situations, the tournament director could be forced to let divisions play on more than one type of surface (we will try to avoid this). This will occur when the tournament cannot be finished on schedule on the outside courts.
It could also mean that:
– Consolations will be cancelled.
– We will be forced to let matches play on alternative venues.
– In the event of rain, we will reschedule matches towards indoors.
– This could also mean that there will be matches rescheduled indoors towards a time it is already dry outside (this is to avoid further delays). In other words, that we have matches scheduled outdoors & indoors to catch up time.
We will do our best to avoid the situations as described above.
Alternative venues in case of bad weather
Initially, we will use the indoors courts of Amstelpark Tennis Centre. We could be forced to schedule matches towards Tennis Park Buitenveldert or Frans Otten Stadion.