(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
     Netherlands officially confirmed as participant Baseball Week Haarlem 2026
Nederlands
...Of course, the Netherlands will participate again...
...in 2022, the team won the Week for the fifth time...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
On Thursday (Februay 5), the Organizing Committee of the Baseball Week Haarlem officially announced that the Netherlands will participate in this years 32nd edition of the biennial international tournament, which will be held June 26 through July 4.
In previous days already was announced that Curaçao, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Italy again will be part of the wellknown event.
Of course, a Baseball Week without the Netherlands would not be complete and although it already was assumed that the Orange-squad again would participate, it now was officially confirmed.
With Curaçao, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Italy, four of the five foreign teams that will come to Haarlem have been confirmed.
The remaining team will be announced soon.
For the fourth time in a row, the field-of-participants consists of six teams.
Overall, it will mark the 12th time that six teams will compete against each other.
In 1972, a record seven teams participated, one pool of four and one pool of three.
The Netherlands is the lone team that has participated in all previous 31 editions since the first one in 1961.
In the first 21 editions (1961 through 2002), the Netherlands Team finished seven times in second place and also seven times in third place.
History was written in 2004 when the Netherlands Team won the Baseball Week for the first time.
The team repeated as tournament-champion in 2006.
The Netherlands Team won the event five times, as it also captured the title in 2010, 2016 and 2022.
Two years ago, the team ended up in third place.
Overall, besides winning the tournament five times, the Netherlands finished seven times in second place, ten times in third place, seven times in fourth place and twice in fifth place.
With five tournament-titles, the Netherlands shares second place with Cuba, Japan and the USA.
The Sullivans-team from the USA holds the record with six titles.
In the confirmation of the Netherlands on Thursday, the following was announced:
The Kingdom of the Netherlands Baseball Team will be in Haarlem this summer during the Baseball Week.
The event, which will be held between June 26 and July 4, 2026, will last one day longer than previous editions.
This automatically ensures that the stands at Pim Mulier Stadium can be lit orange for an extra day.
The Dutch team, participating under the name Team Kingdom of the Netherlands, is a force to be reckoned with in global baseball.
The team has also frequently performed well in Haarlem, most recently winning in 2022.
National Team coach Evert-Jan 't Hoen will once again bring a delegation of highly talented and experienced players to the baseball capital of Europe.
He had quietly assumed it would happen, but Tournament Director Peter Herkemij is nevertheless very enthusiastic about the participation:
,,Our Kingdom team is determined to win the title in Haarlem.
Since the first edition in 1961, the Netherlands has been a constant participant.
With passion, speed, and strong team spirit, they ensure that the stands are filled with enthusiastic and boisterous Orange fans time and again''.
(February 5)
Related Articles:
 Curaçao confirmed as participant Baseball Week Haarlem 2026. (January 21)
Chinese Taipei also confirmed as participant Baseball Week Haarlem 2026. (January 24)
Japan third team confirmed as participant Baseball Week Haarlem 2026. (January 29)
Italy also confirmed as participant Baseball Week Haarlem 2026. (February 2)
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