For Asterix AVO Beveren, Europe is more than a calendar packed with extra fixtures. It’s a deliberate investment in growth and experience.

Jan Bens, chairman for many years and still active at the club today, looks back—and ahead. “I’ve been there from the start. I’ve attended practically every European night. That very first time against Paris is unforgettable; by now it feels like another era.” Asked about the absolute highlight, the answer is immediate: the European Cup win in Vienna in 2001. The very first Belgian Cup in the mid-nineties is also etched in his memory. Watch those old clips on the club’s YouTube channel and you see how much the game has changed: different rules, referees dressed entirely in white, sets to 15, a completely different rhythm. “When you rewatch it now, you think: what on earth is happening there?”

The journeys on the road shaped the story just as much. Ankara in 1998 was pure chaos due to a misunderstanding: we got the day wrong, spent barely twenty-four hours on site, and arranged everything at the last minute. There were also years with extremely long trips to Russia, often via a connection in Moscow—sleeping at the airport and then hours more to remote venues. Far from ideal. Closer to home, it wasn’t always easier either, with overnight bus rides or delayed trains. Two years ago we played in Stuttgart and chose the train; I think we had to change four or five times. “We laugh about it afterwards, but in the moment it’s heavy, logistically and physically. Especially for our players, who then still have to perform on court the next day.” With league, cup and BeNe Cup, the total number of matches climbs quickly. “You easily end up around forty games. Add the European trips and players away with the national team, and a European campaign is definitely not to be underestimated.”

Financial reality demands creativity. “Every year everything gets more expensive: travel, hotels, organisation. For the Champions League you even have to pay a hefty amount up front just to enter—on the order of twenty-five thousand euros. You do get some back later as prize money, but it certainly doesn’t cover the whole picture. The competition is clearly built for the big clubs. For us, it’s fantastic to experience, but financially it remains a puzzle.” What makes it feasible are the people behind the scenes. “Our volunteers are priceless. Without them, this doesn’t work.” The 175th won’t be celebrated in grand style, because the club is focusing on a benefit event for a care centre for people with acquired brain injury. “We did celebrate the 150th. Maybe we’ll go bigger for the 200th.”

Kris Vansnick, head coach and at the club for fifteen years, adds: “Playing in Europe is a conscious season objective. It lifts our players and our team.” For him the added value is threefold: you measure yourself against a higher level, you experience a different intensity, and you learn the details those tournaments demand. “That’s experience you don’t always get in the Belgian league.” His favourite memory is qualifying for the Champions League group stage two seasons ago. “We advanced from the qualifiers into the groups. In that group phase we showed some great things and the team visibly grew.” The atmosphere nights that stick? “The clashes with Galatasaray. At home in Beveren we forced a Golden Set in a boiling arena with a fiery away section. Unforgettable.”

Europe also always strengthens the team bond. “In Belgium, many players combine volleyball with studies or work. In Europe you’re on the road together for three days and live full-time as a team. You train, eat, meet and play together. That concentration of time and focus makes you tighter and helps reach domestic goals faster.” On his fifteen years at Asterix he’s clear: “You see players and staff grow through these campaigns. Europe provides an extra platform. Some players can showcase themselves and give their career an extra boost. It shows the potential that’s unlocked when you challenge yourself.”

Preview: Asterix – Olympiakos (Thu 30 October)

All-in for the Golden Set

The first leg in Piraeus was tougher than expected. Olympiakos showed real physical power, with opposite Kubura as the spearhead. Italian setter Di Iulio ran their game with boldness and tempo. Asterix missed the start but injected new energy with strong substitutions. From midway through the second set the team kept pace, and in a tight third set there was more to be had.

“We want to carry that progression into the home match. We’re not giving in,” says head coach Kris Vansnick. “We’ll need a top performance—at least a 3–1 win—to force a Golden Set and grab qualification for the next round.” Bens adds the wider context: “It will be tough, but these are the nights you do it for. A full house, everyone behind us, and a team getting the absolute maximum out of itself.”

From Paris to Piraeus: 175 European matches that show why Asterix keeps dreaming—and why more chapters are still to come.