(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen & Marco Stoovelaar)
  Curaçao confirmed as participant Baseball Week Haarlem 2026
Nederlands
...Curaçao will be back in Haarlem...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
The Organizing Committee of the Baseball Week Haarlem on Wednesday (January 21) announced that the National Team of Curaçao will participate in this years 32nd edition of the biennial international tournament, which will be held June 26 through July 4.
Curaçao is the first of five foreign teams that will come to Haarlem this Summer.
With that, two of the six teams in the field-of-participants are known.
Besides Curaçao, the Netherlands of course also will participate and is the lone team that has been part of all editions of the Baseball Week, which first was organized in 1961.
The other participating teams will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
Curaçao will participate for the third time in Haarlem.
In 2016, the team finished in fifth place.
In 2022, then led by Manager Hainley Statia, Curaçao was the big surprise of the tournament and was popular with the spectators.
The team reached the Final, but then lost 6-1 to the Netherlands, which then won 'the Week' for the fifth time.
In seven other editions (1966, 1968, 1972, 1980, 1988, 1994, 2008), players from Curaçao also participated when they played for the Netherlands Antilles.
However, in 1966 the team consisted of players from Curaçao.
And in 1994, an all-star team from Sint Maarten represented the Antilles and played under the name Dutch Caribbean Team.
In the confirmation of Curaçao on Wednesday, the following was announced:
...Tournament Director Peter Herkemij...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Baseball Week Haarlem returns to the Pim Mulier Stadium in 2026.
From June 26 to July 4, 2026, Haarlem will once again host the world's largest international baseball invitational tournament.
The organizers are proud to announce the first participant: Team Curaçao.
Team Curaçao is no stranger to the Baseball Week.
In previous editions, the Caribbean team made an indelible impression with energetic baseball and a wealth of talent.
In 2022, the team even reached the tournament final, losing to Team Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In 2026, Curaçao will travel to the Spaarnestad again with a squad brimming with quality and ambition, ready to fight for victory.
Tournament Director Peter Herkemij is looking forward to the team's arrival:
"I'm incredibly excited about Team Curaçao coming to Baseball Week Haarlem!
This team's energy, flair, and distinct winning mentality guarantee a spectacular tournament.
We hope to welcome many familiar faces and future stars to Haarlem again."
Curaçao produces the most Major League Baseball (MLB) players per capita in the world, a unique feat considering its small population, with stars like Kenley Jansen, Ozzie Albies and the recently elected MLB Hall of Famer Andruw Jones.
For decades, Baseball Week Haarlem has been known as a platform where top international teams, established stars, and emerging talents come together.
The event is held biennially.
The other participating countries and teams for the 2026 edition will be announced in the coming weeks.
Regular ticket sales begin on February 26th.
More information about the program, participants, and ticket sales will follow through the official Honkbalweek Haarlem channels.
(January 21)
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