Entrepreneur | Why is the biggest sports marketer in the Netherlands…

The day before the interview, he sent a fifty-second audio message. Hello, with Bob Van Oosterhout. Very good morning. There is a big deal happening in football, which I am involved in commercially. All of this is taking longer than I expected. Can you come after a day? “

It’s Bob van Oosterhout all the way, according to Eindhovens Dagblad. Busy, always full of appointments. Meanwhile, he is at the heart of the Dutch sports world.

He once dreamed of becoming an NBA basketball player, but when that failed, he became the biggest sports marketer in the Netherlands. On his kitchen table, Bob Van Oosterhout founded Triple Double 24 years ago. This particular company is the link between sport and business. Triple Double creates advertising campaigns and marketing concepts for companies that want to introduce themselves in sports. His clients include Albert Heijn, KLM, Campina and Philips.

For “several million”, he and his partners recently sold the second half of their shares to the Belgian company Golazo, the organizer of several major sporting events, including the Eindhoven Marathon.

Giant network by being everywhere

Van Oosterhout has been present at every sporting event for the past quarter century, and they know him at every business club. When it comes to sports, he’s always there. , I worked during the day, after which I still had to go to Philips, Ahoy or Thialf. I’ve been doing this job for 24 years, but you can easily double the hours.”

His ex-wife once joked about his desire to work: “At that time I was very busy and had very little time for my daughter. Marjan said: I smell their foreheads three times and a doubling? Then I thought: now I have to be careful. “

The results are there. Triple Double has earned recognition for the eye-catching procedures that have been created. For example, the agency participated in the Bavaria dress, helped PSV find its current main sponsor and brought Brazilian star Romario to Eindhoven in 2019 for a major advertising campaign during the carnival.

Van Oosterhout’s fame paralleled the success of his company. He became a reference in the field of sports marketing, was a welcome guest at all the major sports clubs in the Netherlands and established a huge network.

If I had to speak in a business club, it was very simple. I didn’t go home until I got a business card from everyone I found interesting. They all went for it.”

But despite all this success, he began to gnaw. Two years ago, he took time off to do things he didn’t have time for. Read books, take a course at Harvard, play sports, and go to the US to visit friends. In fact, nothing came of it. He told himself that he loved the work so much that he could not stop it. And so the hustle and bustle continued around his person. While sitting quietly at a sporting event, he was once again lifted on stage to tell something about marketing.

“People always expect a certain energy from me.”

He himself sometimes makes the comparison with football analyst Rene van der Geep, who has mocked right-back Stanislav Manulev for years. When Van der Gijp came to the bakery, he had to tell the same joke again about Manolev who hit the ball from the field.

Eventually van der Geg fell. Van Oosterhout can put himself in his shoes for a bit. Now it shouldn’t become a story that I’m pathetic or something, because it’s not like that at all. But the thing is, people have always expected a certain energy from me.”

Because in Triple Double, the proportions were very clear. Michel van Grunsven dealt with the business side. Norbert Corsmit was the creative mind. Van Oosterhout himself was the face of the company. That means he always had cute tales, and he would turn the room upside down, he was funny. I owe everything to Michelle and Norberth. We were and still are complementary to each other.”

The role of the sign has become more difficult

The role of the signer fits perfectly with the character of Van Oosterhout. Be it a photographer, reporter or football club manager; Van Oosterhout is kind, friendly and relaxed. He knows how to put his guests first.

, but I found it hard to always be in the “on” position. That’s why, after being on stage with my great friend Humberto Tan, I got in the car right after, just like him. But I didn’t know that about myself. I felt bad about it. It was like I was failing my company.”

Was the sabbatical a harbinger of things to come? “Looking back, this is a sensitive thing for me. Basically I’m addicted to sports, news and my phone to Triple Double. I can’t read three pages of a book before looking at my phone. Sports is always there 24 hours a day. Surely in the beginning it was an example classic on: Living life in the fast lane. ”

New young colleagues with new ideas

When he returned from his vacation, things changed in the office. New young people with new ideas hope to give them more space. I thought I shouldn’t get in their way too much. Triple Double is a group of very capable people who deserve all the space. Additionally, should I continue to advise Albert Heijn on TikTok until I am 60?

It was a strange sensation that his Triple Double no longer fit the jacket he had been wearing for 24 years. “Yes, it was quite a struggle. I know for myself that I haven’t been the best Bob van Oosterhout in the last couple of years. You were certainly still good and valuable, I did my own thing. But I no longer had the absolute sacred fire. I also noted with Michelle and Norberth that he did not It was obvious that we would continue at the same pace for years to come.”

In the end, Van Oosterhout came to the conclusion that it was time to make room for others. The company would be in a better position if Golazzo joined in more forcefully. Especially when he realizes after a conversation on his 50th birthday with Toon Gerbrands and Louis van Gaal that he also doesn’t have eternal life. “Maybe you only have 35 birthdays with your family, and then you have to hope for good health. Or 35 summer vacations, that’s not much.”

Maradona is the oldest

In his work, Gemert businessman shook hands with such greats as Usain Bolt, Pieter van den Hoogenband, Romario, Johan Cruyff and Magic Johnson. But he thinks the greatest of all is Diego Maradona. , I still questioned him at the Hotel de Brug in Mierlo. He was there as a coach with his team, and wanted to make some business deals so he could give some of his people an edge. Diego had very few wines that evening. He wrapped his hand around me, became physical, but signed all contracts for Bavaria, Energy Direct and Keukin Campion’.

At Mierlo, Van Oosterhout saw the power of sport once again. People were crying in line to get autographs, people were driving from Italy, and their parents named the brothers Diego and Armando.

Sport is beautiful because it appeals to certain primitive feelings. Compete, win, be the best. Your team may defeat the archenemy. He’s very athletic, what you can see from the stands is ridiculous.”

He himself became fascinated by the commercial side of the sport in the United States. He played basketball with the Deurne Pioniers, but tried to reach the NBA, the absolute top. He traveled to Kansas City when Michael Jordan was just stepping out with his feet in red and white. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were the stars of the moment. I’ve seen how companies relate to that, and use athletes in commercials. The power of sport is enormous, especially in America.”

He considers himself a special person: Triple Double has taken me everywhere. No sporting event represents anything that I haven’t visited. On top of that, I had the opportunity to work with great people for great clients. From here, lifelong friendships were born. With Michelle, Norberth, my personal assistant Merlin and many other staff members. We have a unique bond.”

Hooliganism

And now what? This interview takes place at Maaspoort in Den Bosch, where he plays Heroes, the basketball club he owns. Somehow, it all started here. Because when he was a ten-year-old boy, his father took Van Oosterhout to Nashua’s big den Bosch, as the club was called. These guys are big with athletic bodies. They can do anything with the ball. I played for hours behind our house. The neighbors literally moved because of the recoil. My fanaticism to the sport started in Maaspoort.”

He wouldn’t quite throw his hands off the Triple Double; He remains a consultant and makes his network available. His colleagues Norbert Kurthsmidt and Michael van Grunsveen also serve on the advisory board. “We will continue to advise and assist the new owner and new management. We have every confidence in the future of Triple Double.” He will also remain the owner of Heroes.

In recent years, I’ve had to say “no” to things I actually felt like doing. For example, against a big football team that wants to gain a foothold in the Middle East or Asia. I haven’t had time for that, directing global brands or maybe doing business in America, but I think it would be fun. But I also find interesting things outside of sports.”

Leave your busy life behind

But he wants to leave his busy life behind. He is now on vacation with his current wife, Han van Aart, mayor of Lone Ob Zand. It will take time for that.

Because when he thinks of what the hard work has cost him, he thinks of marrying his childhood sweetheart Morgan. All three partners divorced his first wife. “It wasn’t just our work. Marjan gave me all the space, but we got apart. We now have a great band again. But you can’t deny that it’s about the unconditional love we all felt for our company.”