If you walked into a sports bar in Amsterdam and asked about the national team, most locals would probably start talking about Virgil van Dijk or the latest heartbreak of the Oranje soccer squad. But here’s the thing: while soccer gets the glory and the screaming headlines, the Netherlands national baseball team has quietly been the most dominant sports dynasty in the country’s history. Honestly, it’s not even close.
Most people kind of assume baseball is just an American thing, or maybe a Japanese or Caribbean obsession. But the Dutch? They’ve been swinging bats since 1912. And they aren't just "good for Europe"—they are a legitimate global powerhouse that has spent the better part of two decades making MLB superstars sweat.
The Kingdom's Secret Weapon: The Caribbean Connection
You can’t talk about this team without talking about the "Kingdom" part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This isn't just a squad from the rainy lowlands of Europe. It is a unique, cross-continental alliance. Basically, the team is a mix of homegrown talent from the European mainland and absolute ballplayers from the islands of Curaçao and Aruba.
Think about the names that have suited up for the Dutch. Xander Bogaerts. Andrelton Simmons. Kenley Jansen. Jurickson Profar. Didi Gregorius. These aren't just bit players; they are (or were) some of the best in the world.
The islands have a baseball culture that is just... different. In Curaçao, baseball is life. It’s the highest number of MLB players per capita on the planet. When you combine that Caribbean flair and raw athleticism with the organizational structure and "Honkbal" traditions of the Netherlands, you get a monster.
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In the 2025 European Baseball Championship, which wrapped up this past September in Rotterdam, we saw this in full effect. The Dutch didn't just win; they ground out a gritty 6-5 victory over Italy in the final to take home their 25th continental title. Twenty-five. That’s not a typo. They’ve won more than twice as many titles as the rest of Europe combined.
The 2011 Miracle and the "Powerhouse" Label
For a long time, the world looked at Dutch baseball as a curiosity. "Oh, look, the guys in the orange pajamas can hit a little bit." Then 2011 happened.
In the Baseball World Cup final, the Netherlands faced Cuba. Cuba! The team that basically owned international amateur baseball for half a century. The Dutch beat them 2-1. It was the first time a European team had won the World Cup since the 1930s (and back then, the competition was... let's just say, less global).
That win changed the DNA of the program. It wasn't a fluke. They followed it up by reaching the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in both 2013 and 2017. They were knocking out teams like Cuba (again), South Korea, and even giving the Dominican Republic a run for their money.
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What’s Happening Right Now? (The 2026 Outlook)
If you’re looking for the current state of the Netherlands national baseball team, things are getting spicy. As of early 2026, the team is ranked 9th in the WBSC World Rankings. They just locked in their spot for the 2027 WBSC Premier12, which is basically the "top 12 only" club.
But the immediate focus is the 2026 World Baseball Classic coming up this March.
There’s a bit of a changing of the guard happening. The "Golden Generation" is getting older. But the new talent is scary. Have you seen Ceddanne Rafaela? The kid is a human highlight reel for the Boston Red Sox, and he’s officially committed to the Dutch squad for the 2026 WBC.
The Andruw Jones Factor
Wait, it gets better. Andruw Jones—yes, the 10-time Gold Glover—is the manager for the 2026 WBC. Having a legend like Jones in the dugout gives this team a level of swagger that most European teams just don't have. He knows the island kids, he knows the MLB grind, and he knows how to win.
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Why Do They Keep Winning?
It’s easy to say "they have MLB players," but Italy has MLB players too. Spain is starting to recruit heavily from Latin America. So why is the Netherlands always the one standing on the podium?
- The System: The Honkbal Hoofdklasse (the Dutch Major League) is actually a very solid level of ball. It’s where guys like Shairon Martis and Kevin Kelly keep their arms fresh.
- Continuity: These guys actually want to play for the Kingdom. You see brothers playing together all the time. In 2023, they had three sets of brothers on the roster (the Schoops, the Profars, and the Palacios). That chemistry is hard to fake.
- Relentless Pitching: In the 2025 Euros, Kevin Kelly was named Best Pitcher for a reason. He threw 10.2 innings of shutout ball with 21 strikeouts. When your "non-MLB" guys are throwing like that, you're hard to beat.
The Reality Check: It’s Not All Sunshine
We have to be honest here—the 2023 WBC was a bit of a disaster. The Netherlands got knocked out in the first round due to a weird tiebreaker rule in a pool where everyone went 2-2. It felt like a punch in the gut.
There’s a lot of pressure on the 2026 squad to prove that 2023 was just a weird blip and not the start of a decline. They are in Pool D in Miami, which is the "Pool of Death." They have to face Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. It's going to be brutal.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following the Netherlands national baseball team this year, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- Watch the Bullpen: The Dutch success almost always hinges on their middle relief. If Kevin Kelly and Wendell Floranus are sharp, they can hang with the big boys.
- Follow the Red Sox: Ceddanne Rafaela is the X-factor. If he brings his current MLB form to the national team, he’s a defensive vacuum in center field that changes the whole game.
- Don't Sleep on the "Local" Arms: Players like Shairon Martis might be "veterans" now, but their experience in international pressure cookers is worth its weight in gold.
- Tournament Schedule: Mark March 6, 2026, on your calendar. That’s the opener against Venezuela in Miami. That game basically decides if the Dutch move on or go home early again.
The Netherlands national baseball team is a weird, beautiful anomaly in the sporting world. They are a bridge between European discipline and Caribbean flair. Whether they’re winning their 26th European title or upsetting a powerhouse in Miami, they are never boring.
Next Steps for the 2026 Season:
Check the official WBC rosters which are finalized in February. Look for the health status of Jurickson Profar and Xander Bogaerts, as their presence in the middle of the lineup is the difference between a "good" team and a "semifinal" team.