In the years '34 and '35 of the 20th century various articles appeared in Dutch watersportmagazines about a new design: the Dragon. There were many people against 'an other regatta boat, while we have already such a big range". But, of course, there were also people who were more positive towards the new design and in 1936 it was Count Benthem van den Bergh who ordered the first Dragon for Holland at Holms Yachtvarv, Sweden.
From that time on de D H1, Cavalier, was regularly reported in many newspapers and magazines as she took part in various races like Kiel Week, with good results. In those days there were no trailers, so one sailed his Dragon to where the regatta was, as did the Cavalier.
She was sailed from Holland to Kiel and from there to Travemunde. The trip from Kiel to Travemunde was reported in detail in the press. Dutch sailors who ordered a Dragon in Denmark had to sail her home. Sometimes they were lucky and had their Dragon transported to the Netherlands by a landing-craft of the Dutch Navy. They had a fleet of about 8 Dragons and when a new Dragon had to be delivered to the Netherlands the Navy transported her by own means. If you were lucky to have your Dragon delivered at the same time, you could share the Navy facilities. Upon arrival in the Navy harbour of Den Helder, you had to sail (or paddle) home (sometimes for to the south of the country). This could take some days. What a comfort today, put her on the trailer and in one day you are where you want to race.
In a relatively short period of time Dragon sailing became very popular in Holland. Even in the first years of the 2nd World War sailing in the Netherlands flourished as travelling abroad was prohibited and the Dutch people spent their leisure time at the lakeside. It must be understood that in the first two years nobody believed the war was going to last very long and people tried to continue social and economical life. Dutch wharfs continued to build boats until they ran out of wood. There is a Dutch Dragon rumour that the keel of some wooden boats built towards the end of the war, were made out of telephonepoles. This wood, however, was treated with tar and therefore no paint would adhere to it.
From 1936 to 1966 200 Dragons were rgistered in The Netherlands. Dutch wharfs that built them were a.o. E.G. v.d. Stadt, Het Fort, Victoria and De Vries Lentsch. Nowadays Joop Doomernik is the only official Dragonbuilder in the Netherlands.
The D H1 has sailed till 2002, in which year she burned dramatically in her winterstore.
In 1961 the Dutch Dragon Association was founded. The formation meeting took place in the livingroom of Mr. Nijbakker, sailing the H50. Starting with 20 members, the foundation year ended with 58 members. Since then the class went up and down in Holland. From 1987, when Ad Bakker won the Gold Cup for Holland, the Dutch Dragonsailors are an integral part of the top ten at the result-lists of international regattas. In 1989 Ed Frech won the Virginie Heriot Cup (European Championship), in 1993 Fred Imhoff won the Gold Cup and in 1998 he won the Virginie Heriot Cup.
The Netherlands have hosted the Gold Cup for several times, in 1955 and 1960 in Muiden, in 1965 and 1971 in Medemblik, in 1980 and 1986 in Enkhuizen and in 1993 it was held in Medemblik again. In 1998, for the first time in Dragonhistory, the European Championship was organized in the Netherlands, again in Medemblik.
In 2003 again a Gold Cup will be organized in Medemblik, where, in the meantime, a fantastic sailing centre has been built.
In 2000 the Dragon Centre Muiden was realized. A parking place for dry sailing and an own crane makes it possible to launch the Dragon quickly. A series of Sunday-races is sailed there during summer.
Since a few years a special "Classical Wood" committee takes care of this group of wooden Dragons (not the new cold moulded!).