Radio DJ Marieke Elsinga's Tandem Skydive with Bob Draijer

On a clear morning, Qmusic radio host Marieke Elsinga boarded an aircraft at Hilversum Airport for a tandem skydive she would never forget. Strapped to her: Bob Draijer, founder of ParaDemo and one of the Netherlands' most experienced tandem instructors with over 20,000 jumps to his name.

What started as a radio stunt for Qmusic became an experience Marieke shared on Instagram that same evening with her hundreds of thousands of followers. The footage went viral immediately: the exit moment above Hilversum, the adrenaline of freefall, and the soft landing under the open canopy.

Location & facilities

The tandem skydive took place above Hilversum Airport (Vliegveld Hilversum), a centrally located airfield in the Gooi region. The aircraft was facilitated by Skydive Hilversum. Bob Draijer performed the jump himself as the responsible tandem instructor on behalf of ParaDemo.

Why Marieke chose a tandem skydive with ParaDemo

Tandem skydiving is for many celebrities the logical first step into the sport.

You do not need training, exams or your own equipment. You are attached to a certified instructor who makes all technical decisions: when the parachute opens, how you land and how to steer.

Bob Draijer is regularly approached by radio hosts, TV presenters and athletes looking for a professional and safe first skydive experience. His experience with international demonstrations at sporting events, festivals and stadiums makes him a trusted name for media productions that cannot afford risk.

What made this jump special? Beyond the breathtaking experience, the entire jump was captured by a separate camera flyer who dove into freefall alongside Marieke and Bob. The raw footage Marieke posted to her Instagram right after landing collected tens of thousands of likes within 24 hours.

The experience of a tandem skydive

A tandem skydive gives you a long freefall before the parachute opens. Under the canopy you then float for several more minutes. Bob regularly lets his passengers steer, turn and practice with the brakes themselves.

For anyone who has never jumped before, this is often the most surprising part: the silence, the view and the realisation that you are truly flying.

Want to jump like Marieke? ParaDemo organises tandem skydives throughout the Netherlands and internationally. Check our tandem skydive packages, skydiving Hilversum or celebrity tandem skydives or get in touch for personal advice and current pricing.

The impact: from Instagram stunt to serious radio content

What stands out about the campaign around Marieke's jump is how Qmusic plays the story not only on social media, but integrates it into the radio broadcasts. Listeners hear Marieke talk about the nerves beforehand, the moment of stepping out of the aircraft, and the adrenaline that kept rushing through her body hours after landing.

For ParaDemo this is a familiar pattern. Bob has previously worked on tandem skydives for SBS6 shows, Radio 538 events and international clients like Velous Footwear.

Each time, a well-documented skydive produces a story that reaches far beyond the jump itself.

How safe is tandem skydiving? Tandem skydiving is among the safest forms of the parachute sport. Statistically the chance of a serious incident is extremely small, thanks to the dual safety system of main and reserve parachute, automatic activation device, and years of instructor training.

In the media

The jump was picked up by national media. Nu.nl reported extensively on Marieke Elsinga jumping out of an aircraft. Marieke shared the footage herself in two Instagram posts that went viral within hours. The story was further amplified through Qmusic's broadcasts.

View Marieke Elsinga's first Instagram post about the jump

View Marieke Elsinga's second Instagram post with the freefall footage