CHIO Rotterdam 2025 rated 8.3 – Audience praises atmosphere, location, and organization
The 76th edition of CHIO Rotterdam, held from June 19–22 in the Kralingse Bos, received very positive reviews from visitors. According to the audience survey conducted by R2 Research in collaboration with Rotterdam Topsport, the event earned an average rating of 8.3. The location (8.9), atmosphere (8.6), and organization and communication (8.4) were particularly highly valued.
Broad and enthusiastic audience
The research shows that CHIO Rotterdam attracts a diverse audience: young and old visiting together. The average visitor age was 47 years, while the groups they came with averaged 33 years old. Strikingly, one-third of attendees were younger than 18. A large majority were women (69%), and more than half are or have been active in equestrian sports themselves.
Almost all visitors came from the Netherlands, with 20% from Rotterdam itself and 16% from the Rijnmond region. CHIO reaches its audience mainly through its own channels (website, newsletter, and social media) and through recommendations from friends or family.
Strong image for Rotterdam
CHIO also contributes to the city’s sporting image. No less than 83% of visitors believe the event shows that Rotterdam embraces sporting talent. Three-quarters experience Rotterdam as a welcoming city, and two-thirds view the city as a place where collaboration and new initiatives emerge.
Peter Blangé, Director of Rotterdam Topsport:
“These results confirm the value of CHIO Rotterdam for our city. The event not only contributes to Rotterdam’s international sporting image but also strengthens community ties in the region. We are proud to have achieved this together with the organization and many dedicated partners.”
Points for improvement and engagement
Although ratings were high, visitors also identified areas for improvement, particularly in food & beverage services and signage. Nevertheless, almost half of visitors (45%) indicated they would actively recommend CHIO to friends and family. This results in a very positive NPS score of +40 (Net Promoter Score is a way to measure customer satisfaction and loyalty)—an excellent result.
Carolien Lavooij, Chair of CHIO Rotterdam, is pleased with the outcome of the survey:
“We are extremely proud that so many visitors value our event so highly. It shows that CHIO is not only a sporting highlight but also a place where people come together to enjoy top-level sport in a unique setting. The feedback we receive helps us to make CHIO even better every year.”
Thanks to visitors
The organization of CHIO Rotterdam thanks all visitors who participated in the survey. Their opinions are of great value and form the basis for further strengthening the event in the coming years.
About Rotterdam Topsport
Worldwide, only a handful of cities truly have sport in their DNA—and Rotterdam is one of them. Rotterdam Topsport provides athletes with the climate needed to perform at a world-class level. Rotterdam Topsport supports talents, talent centers, and elite sports clubs, facilitates TeamNL high-performance programs, is involved in developing sports facilities, and brings international sporting events to the city. With these efforts, we increase athletes’ medal chances while simultaneously strengthening the city’s image. Rotterdam is the World City of Sports.