You could say that every participant at the Hajraa volleyball tournament disables themselves by drinking excessively in advance and partying deep into the night. Nonetheless, some people are voluntarily adding another restriction. On a side court they are happy to be lectured by the Netherlands women's paravolleyball team.

This is a group of women, who - as their national coach Pim Scherpenzeel puts it - have become 'damaged'  somewhere along the way and are no longer able to play regular volleyball. One of them is missing an arm, someone else has lost both legs; each in her own way has a physical disability. But disability has fortunately not forced them to give up their beloved sport. On a smaller court, with a smooth, synthetic floor and a low net, they continue to play with  enthusiasm; they even achieved sixth place at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Students who feel tempted to take up the challenge can play against this team. On the condition that they observe the para-game's most important rule: backsides must stay on the floor. Student Jesse Kling from Ede is struggling to adapt after just one sit-volley match: “I've got a sore backside and a palm full of blisters, from all that shoving yourself about”. This is because - quick explanation - once you are sitting you can move about and to do that - try it yourself sometime - you really need your hands.

The 2017 edition of Hajraa was otherwise its old familiar self: a mixture of sport, music, drink, French fries and physical exhaustion in every shape and size. And let's not forget the nicknames that some teams have proudly adopted and had printed on their shirts. Like the shattered members of 'Golden Shower' dragging themselves across pitch 73. Their name is courtesy of a team member who at a previous year's Hajraa was too tired to leave his tent to take a leak and instead gave himself and his tent buddy an unpleasant urine shower.

On Saturday the organizers described the event as very successful. “Our crew of 120 people is pretty beat after a week spent setting up,” explains competition secretary Nina van der Maaden. “But we'll catch up on sleep next week.”