Right at the entrance to the campsite, there’s a sign that reads: “Can I tempt you with a glass of water”. Signs like these are a regular feature at the outdoor Hajraa tournament, but this year, with the forecasted heat, the organizers have added more. “We haven’t only made signs to indicate where water points are, but also added directions on how to find them,” explains vice chair Dagmar Mackenbach. Together with the Red Cross, the organization reviewed how best to deal with the high temperatures.

Additional water points have been set up throughout the site, and shaded areas have been created on the playing fields using cloths and party tents. The bar has also stocked up on extra water, Mackenbach says. “We managed to arrange more water with the supplier just in time.” On the playing field, there are small pools for special water games, as well as water tubs filled with sponges. The planning was thorough, she emphasizes. That was possible because the rising temperatures were visible in the weather forecasts well in advance.

Under the trees on the camping grounds, people are setting up their tents—some have brought coolers along. In the full sun, a group of shirtless guys from Tilburg are already playing volleyball. “Don’t worry, we put on plenty of SPF 50,” they assure. A little later, one of their friends walks up with streaks of white sunscreen on his arms, asking them to help rub it in. Besides sunscreen, they’ve brought plenty of water and some caps. They recall that it was just as hot two years ago at Hajraa. “Only one of our team members got heatstroke back then.”

Due to the nationwide train strike, they arrived on campus in a small Toyota Aygo. “Three guys and a lot of stuff. Tetris has nothing on this,” one of them jokes. According to another, he didn’t even need a seatbelt—he was wedged in tightly enough between all the bags. The train cancellations definitely caught the organizers off guard, Mackenbach says. “We had to act really fast and coordinate with the TU/e.” Thanks to their good relationship with the university, that went smoothly. On campus and in the surrounding area, they managed to arrange extra parking spots. Mackenbach doesn’t know exactly how many more cars to expect, though. “I heard some teams even rented buses to get here—it’s so great to see how eager people are to come.”