Erasmus Rotterdam Open is one of the largest and oldest tournaments of the Netherlands. It is organised annually in the spring by the Erasmus Debating Society.
Next edition
Date: May 15 & 16 2021
Contact information organisation: info@debate.nl
Format: British Parliamentary
Language: English
Speech lengths: 7 minutes
Location: Wolfert van Borselen Tweetalig, Rotterdam
Registration: Open
Fees: 15 euros per team, free for judges
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2811339262439308
History
Since 1997, a tournament called EDS Toernooi was organised by the Erasmus Debating Society, making it the first tournament with the status Dutch Debating Championships (NK). In 1999, the European Universities Debating Championships (EUDC) was organised for the first time, also in Rotterdam.
Up to April 2003, the tournament was held annually in the American Parliamentary (AP) debate format. In 2004, EDS decided to organise the English-language Rotterdam Open (RO) in its stead. In May 2005, the EDS Toernooi came back and it received the status of NK. In April 2006, the format of the tournament was changed to British Parliamentary (BP) and it was organised with the name Rotterdam Grand Prix BP. The tournament was once again organised in the BP format in October 2007, this time in cooperation with the Nederlands Debat Instituut with the name Brits Parlementair Debattoernooi 2007. In 2005 and 2007, the international Rotterdam Open also took place.
2014 was the last year in which the BP tournament was organised in Dutch. In 2015, Rotterdam Open was organised in English. In 2016 and 2017, it held the name of Speakers Academy Erasmus Rotterdam Open to refer to its sponsor. After this, the tournament has simply been called Erasmus Rotterdam Open.
In 2020, ERO did not take place due to government measures at the time banning events of more than 100 people, as a way to combat the global coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, the tournament was held online for the first time.
Previous editions
| Year | Teams | Champions | Best Speaker | Tab |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | Emery Taylor & Matt Caito | Klaudia Maciejewska | Tab |
| 2019 | 49 | Katharina Jansen & Lisa Knodt | Roel Becker | Tab |
| 2018 | 56 | Marike Breed & Roel Becker | Floris Holstege | Tab |
| 2017 | 60 | Melda Eren & Monica Forman | Monica Forman | Tab |
| 2016 | 56 | Rogier Baart & Floris Holstege | Matt Hazell | Tab |
| 2015 | 36 | Evelyn Svingen & Srdjan Miletic | Rogier Baart | |
| 2014 | 32 | Johan Lammers & Bas Tönissen | Alex Klein & Henk van Zuilen | |
| 2013 | 36 | Josse van Proosdij & Daniël Schut | Micha Beekman | Tab |
| 2012 | 44 | Rogier Baart & Tomas Beerthuis | Tomas Beerthuis | Tab |
| 2011 (NK) | 56 | Daniël Springer & Lars Duursma | Reinier de Adelhart Toorop | Tab |
| 2011 | 44 | Senna Maatoug & Anne Valkering | Adrian de Groot Ruiz | Tab |
| 2009 | 32 | Julien Spliet & Sarie Muijs | Reinier de Adelhart Toorop | Tab |
| 2008 | 44 | Salar al-Khafaji & Rutger Vos | Fleur Praal | Tab |
| 2007 (RO) | 28 | Rhydian Morgan & Alex Ward | Rhydian Morgan | Tab |
| 2007 | 32 | Anne Valkering & Reinier de Adelhart Toorop | Leela Koenig | Tab |
| 2006 | 24 | Anne Valkering & Julien Spliet | Julius Lindenbergh | Tab |
| 2005 | 20 | Chris Kolerok & Rose Helens-Hart | Alex Ward | Tab |
| 2005 (NK) | 38 | Klaas van Schelven & Jan Hartman | Marc Roels | Tab |
| 2004 | ? | Fraser Campbell & Laura Duban | onbekend | |
| 2003 | 32 | Beinte Koopmans & Wytze Schouten | Jan Rosing | |
| 2002 (NK) | 16 | Jan Rosing & Klaas van Schelven | Edward van Geuns | |
| 2001 | ? | Daniël Okma & Karen Kleijn | Wytze Schouten | |
| 2000 | 20 | Wouter Vermeulen & Karen Kleijn | Wouter Vermeulen | |
| 1999 (EUDC) | 32 | Michael Birshan & Muireann O’Cinneide | Michael Birshan | Tab |
| 1999 (NK) | 20 | Alexander Eerdmans & Jeannette Baljeu | Alexander Eerdmans | |
| 1998 (NK) | 28 | Joris van Oss & Gertjan Christiaanse | Antoinette Laan | |
| 1997 (NK) | 10 | Antoinette Laan & Jock Geselschap | Antoinette Laan |