Dutch Mini Rally – Dark Edition: night, navigation and adventure

On Saturday, January 17th, the third edition of the Dutch Mini Rally – Dark Edition took place — and what an edition it was. Throughout the afternoon, participants gathered at the Van der Valk Hotel in Veenendaal for registration, the roadbook, rally plate, and a final cup of coffee before the adventure would begin.

Around 16:00, the teams set off. The first part of the route was still driven in daylight, but dusk soon settled in and darkness took over. Navigating in the dark demanded maximum concentration, sharp teamwork, and full trust in the roadbook. Conditions were perfect: crisp winter weather without ice or snow — a relief compared to the week before.

Dick and Gerben had mapped out a challenging and varied route in the familiar three classes. In the glow of the headlights, a beautiful scene unfolded: narrow forest lanes, deserted country roads, and dark rural stretches. At times treacherous, at times surprising — exactly what a Dark Edition should be.

After roughly two and a half hours of driving, a welcome break awaited the participants: a traditional Dutch stamppot buffet, which was clearly appreciated. Afterwards, the adventure continued, heading back toward Veenendaal. Along the way, two teams turned out to be just a bit too enthusiastic and ended up stuck in the mud, but with combined effort they were quickly back on track.

From 22:00 onwards, the first participants trickled back into the hotel. With drinks and snacks, stories were exchanged while the organization calculated the results. Before 23:00, the winners of this edition could be celebrated.

The participants’ reactions were unanimously enthusiastic. The atmosphere, the route, and the sense of adventure made this Dark Edition an evening not soon forgotten. The organization looks back with pride on an extremely successful Dutch Mini Rally – Dark Edition.