Exploring International Baseball in the Heart of Europe
Haarlem means baseball. At first glance, you might believe this to be a misspelling of the Upper Manhattan neighborhood known for its jazz history and gospel choirs. However, the truth is that Haarlem is the home to one of Europe’s top international tournaments – Honkbalweek – which celebrates its 31st year in 2024. Participating countries include the Netherlands, Japan, the United States, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Spain, and Italy.
What is Honkbalweek? Why should you attend? Why should you join our Netherlands tour? Read below to learn about your next baseball adventure!
What is Haarlem Baseball Week?
Europe’s premier national-team competition is Haarlem Baseball Week, known as Honkbalweek Haarlem in Dutch. Traditionally matching six countries in a round-robin and playoff format, the summer 2024 invitational will mark its 31st competition. It takes place biennially in even years and the host Dutch national team is the defending champion, having defeated Curaçao in 2022.
In the tournament’s early years, teams frequently featured American soldiers stationed in the Netherlands, Germany, and England. As the competition continued, American college teams, such as the Arizona Wildcats and the Miami Hurricanes, played against international opponents. Therefore, the United States claims 14 titles in Honkbalweek history, as well as 7 runner-ups and 11 third-place finishes. Starting with the 2000 tournament, only national teams received invitations.
Honkbalweek has a long tradition of highlighting notable players before they reached fame in Major League Baseball. Future World Series champions Alex Bregman, Kris Bryant, Stephen Strasburg, and Trea Turner all competed for the United States national team. Well-known Cuban players at Honkbalweek include José Abreu, José Contreras, and Yuli Gurriel. And, in the last edition, Team USA featured the two players who would be selected first and second overall in the 2023 MLB Draft: Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes.
For fans of Nippon Professional Baseball, single-season home run champion Wladimir Balentien featured for the Dutch national team during JapanBall’s tour experience in 2022. Famous participants are not only those playing on the diamond – there are also recognizable names in the dugouts, including Italy national team manager Mike Piazza, a 12-time All-Star and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Why you should go to Haarlem Baseball Week
Now you know about the history of Honkbalweek, let’s explore even more about why you should make this event your next bucket-list vacation. As Shane Barclay from JapanBall shares, Honkbalweek is a “hidden gem on the international baseball circuit.”
Also not to be missed is connecting with Dutch culture and history through Haarlem’s laid-back charm and nearby Amsterdam’s internationally-renowned tourist attractions. Haarlem offers an authentic Dutch culinary and architectural experience, while also being manageable and more subdued than the big city a couple of train stops away. It is a sought-after destination for Dutch tourists for its elegant canals, classical central square, eclectic museums, historic church organ that was played by Mozart and Händel, and diverse food and beverage options, including an Indonesian-influenced gastropub and an old church converted into a craft brewery.
If Amsterdam is more to your liking, you are only 15 minutes away on the Sprinter train. The Netherlands’ largest city is a hub for cultural and historical sites, such as the Van Gogh Museum, featuring a chronicle of the Dutch master’s artwork. For art lovers, you should also not miss the country’s national museum of art and history, the Rijksmuseum, displaying almost 8,000 objects. Continue your exploration of the human condition by visiting the Anne Frank Huis, which was the home of a young Jewish girl hiding from Nazi persecution during the Second World War.
Amsterdam is truly one of the most unique locations in the world with its network of interconnected canals. Boat tours leave regularly from docks across the city, primarily around the Grachtengordel neighborhood. For fans of sweet concoctions, do not forget to sample a tasty stroopwafel, a round cookie combined with dough and syrup. If you wish to extend your trip to destinations beyond Amsterdam, then Schipol Airport is your gateway to the rest of Europe.
Why you should go to Honkbalweek with JapanBall
You have learned about Honkbalweek and the reasons to attend, but why go with JapanBall? The simple answer – no other tour organization will give you the same amazing experience! You will benefit from the expertise of a baseball-focused travel company, which has led numerous tours of Japan, the Dominican Republic, South Korea, and the United States.
JapanBall focuses on friendships, culture, food, and tourist attractions, in addition to top-notch baseball matchups. The team will lead you through an engaging and fulfilling itinerary, while being both cost-effective and in-depth. For the traveler valuing social connections, friendships are easy to make given the small group size. JapanBall also knows that you value time separate from the group, therefore free time is scheduled into the agenda.
Your 2024 Honkbalweek experience will include tickets to approximately 13 games, all-in land travel, group sightseeing in Haarlem and Amsterdam, business-class accommodations, and access to baseball personalities. Want to learn more? Visit our tour page today and reserve your spot for an unforgettable baseball journey!