Pieter Devos of Belgium rides Claire Z to a clear round ©Getty Images

Belgium put in a scintillating display to move up from eighth place to lead the team jumping competition at the Longines International Equestrian Federation European Championships in Rotterdam.

Pieter Devos, with Claire Z, Jos Verlooy and Igor, and anchorman Gregory Wathelet on MJT Nevados S, all went clear at the Rotterdam Arena on day two.

That meant Jerome Guery's eight faults, collected on Quel Homme de Hus, could be scrapped, leaving a first-day total of 11.07 penalty points.

Germany led the rankings after day one, but slipped to second on 12.22 penalty points as Britain climbed into the bronze medal position on 13.41 points.

"The course designer did a great job today," said Devos.

"It was much more technical, you had to ride with a plan to the very last fence but it was a horse-friendly course. 

"We can go to day three tomorrow with the horses not being in the red, and this is always good."

Defending champions Ireland are eighth.

Of the teams that haven't yet qualified for next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo, Britain, France, Belgium, Spain and Ireland are all seeking to grab their tickets to Japan.

Peder Fredricson of Sweden, with H&M All In, dropped to eighth in the individual competition at Rotterdam Arena ©Getty Images
Peder Fredricson of Sweden, with H&M All In, dropped to eighth in the individual competition at Rotterdam Arena ©Getty Images

Also seeking Olympic qualification are Italy, Austria, Denmark, Norway and Portugal.

Overnight leader in the individual competition, Peder Fredricson on H&M All In, knocked down one fence as he dropped to eighth overall.

The Swede is still in the hunt for gold on 4.00 penalty points but has been leapfrogged by Britain's Ben Maher, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland and Alexis Deroubaix of France.

Maher and Explosion W jumped a clear round and lead the standings with just 0.62 penalty points from time faults.

Atop Albfuehren's Bianca, Guerdat had time faults of 1.31, with Deroubaix and Timon d'Aure picking up 1.40 time faults in third position.

The European Para-Dressage grade four title was won by Sanne Voets from The Netherlands with Demanteur RS2 N.O.P.

She scored 76.659 per cent for gold.

Belgium's Manon Claeys on San Dior took silver on 73.805 per cent as the bronze medal went to Louise Etzner Jakobsson of Sweden.

With Zernard, Jakobsson scored 72.902.

Frank Hosmar made it a Dutch double by claiming gold in the grade five final.

He scored 75.810 per cent with Alphaville N.O.P as Briton Sophie Wells, atop C Fatal Attraction, secured silver on 75.595 per cent.

Michele George and Best of 8 took bronze for Belgium on 72.571 per cent.