The Netherlands and Baseball

**Blaven** · August 15, 2007, 06:37 PM

So I'm watching the Tigers play the Indians, and we (the Tigers) have this new pitcher, Jurgen-something or other, making his MLB debut, and he's Dutch. I was under the impression that baseball was pretty much un-heard of in Europe. Is this just some bizarre case, or is baseball actually popular with the Dutch?

**danzig** · August 15, 2007, 08:00 PM

Evidently the Netherlands has the one of the most popular professional baseball leagues in Europe, 8 teams only 42 game schedule but also regulation/promotion (which is wierd). Honkbal Hoofdklasse is its name.

**the_mango55** · August 15, 2007, 08:52 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Wo..._Classic#Teams

I figure these are all the countries that have a fairly significant interest in baseball.

European teams are the Netherlands and Italy.

**Quacky** · August 16, 2007, 06:13 AM

I was watching some of this game and had to laugh at how they pronounced his name. Anyway hes from Curaçao in dutch antilles which does baseball like a lot of the caribbean. Since its part of kingdom of the Netherlands though a bunch of them can play for the Netherlands if they want.

**Gary88** · August 16, 2007, 06:15 AM

those crazy dutch...

yeah its not at all big in the UK mind. we play softball sometimes in PE but we already have rounders

**Quacky** · August 16, 2007, 06:23 AM

Not to mention that they were some of the most boring school days ever when they made us play rounders. Was up there with athletics for most boring and pointless PE ever.

**Justinian** · August 16, 2007, 01:22 PM

Baseball is much more exciting than rounders.

**TWoxy** · August 17, 2007, 05:53 AM

We don't play rounders in P.E, it's usually girls that do. We do play softball however; it's alright, but it doesn't beat Cricket.

**Mr Tuna** · August 20, 2007, 05:09 PM

The national team is pretty good actually, or to say it other.
It doesn't suck that bad.

It's not that widley popular however, football is still the national sport.