Europe Tours

Honkbal = Dutch Baseball!

Approx. July 14-20*, 2024: Haarlem Baseball Week

Baseball…béisbol…yakyu…honkbal??

Honkbal is the Dutch word for baseball, and you’ll get plenty of it on our trip to the Netherlands to watch the biennial Honkbalweek Haarlem (Haarlem Baseball Week).

Haarlem Baseball Week celebrates its 31st year in 2024 and will feature some of the best national teams from around the world. The field is TBA, but in the previous Honkbalweek in 2022, national teams from the Netherlands, USA, Cuba, Japan, Curaçao, and Italy participated.

Teams play three games per day during round-robin play, leading to a climactic championship. Games are played at historic Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem, home to not just the local professional team (Kinheim Haarlem), but also the Dutch Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

You’ll get a taste of European culture and history, seen through a baseball lens! Haarlem, referred to as “Little Amsterdam,” is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. It has the culture and history of Amsterdam, but with more charm and less tourists. But let’s not kid ourselves – Amsterdam is one of the world’s greatest cities, and you will have plenty of opportunity to spend time there via an easy 10-15 minute light rail train!

Holland is an underrated baseball country too! Their professional league – Honkbal Hoofdklasse – is the strongest in Europe. The Netherlands has a strong tradition of players from the mainland, including Hall-of-Famer Bert Blyleven, and their pro league and the national team are fortified with studs from the Dutch Indies (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao). Notable Netherlands national team alumni include Kenley Jansen, NPB home run champ Wladimir Balentien, Andrelton Simmons, Xander Bogaerts, and Andruw Jones.

For an idea of what to expect, check out the video above and our 2022 Honkbalweek tour recap and photo log. Don’t miss this ideal opportunity to experience a rich, niche baseball culture!

*Honkbalweek runs July 12-19, 2024. Our tour will likely run around July 14-20, but specific dates TBD. We are also considering offering an add-on tour to another country. Sign up for the “no-obligation” list to stay tuned!

What's Included

(Not yet available. Sign up for list below to receive updates.)

Click for more info

Sign up if you’re interested in attending but aren’t quite ready to commit. The no-obligation list simply allows us to plan better and assures your spot on the tour. You’ll begin to receive trip information emails, and if you find you cannot go on the tour, no worries.

Questions?

The trip to Japan far exceeded my expectations. Your efforts to plan and execute the logistics of everything we did was flawless. Where do I begin to thank you? I feel as though you gave me a gift. You opened a door and helped me experience a place and people in a way that I might not otherwise had the opportunity to do without you.

Nancy

Southampton, MA

The baseball…the unique culture…Hiroshima…the good group of fellow travelers. You were right, your tour attracts nice people. Great trip! I really enjoyed it.

Vinny

Boston, MA

Can’t thank you enough for a great trip. What you do is truly remarkable. I had a blast. Spent my extra days after the trip walking about Tokyo and really seeing a lot since by doing the tour with you first I learned how to get around. It’s a trip I’ll never forget.

Dennis

Lexington, VA

It is already a month since the trip and am still sky high. Thanks for the great trip!

Chris

Pleasanton, CA

We knew the trip would be interesting, but we NEVER expected to meet such a terrific group of people from all parts of the country. Yes, it was a tour group. However, your low-key and relaxed approach to travel and accommodations made the experience so much more personal to each one of us.

Molly and Patty

Nashville, TN

Just a note to let you know that we made it home in one piece. Well, actually, more than one piece since we both took a large bit of Japan home with us in our hearts.

Tom and Maria

Ossonning, NY

Great time. I met terrific people as both tour guests and the Japanese we met along the way. And the baseball was a hoot.

Paul

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I have worked and attended thousands of sporting events over the past four decades in the United States, England, and Ireland, but none of that compared to my first professional baseball game in Japan. It was an incredible and unique experience. The players were just as talented as their counterparts in the USA and the fans just as passionate. I felt it an honor to be at the game. The service from JapanBall was impeccable. I hope to return again in the future.

Scott

Glendale, CA

This trip exceeded our expectations. If you’re a baseball fan and want to broaden your experience overseas to Japan, Korea, Europe and the DR, check out JapanBall. ⚾️⚾️⚾️

Steve

Whittier, CA

I live in Japan. I loved the trip. It was fabulous. You took all the hassle and stress out of doing such a thing. Even after living here for a number of years, this sort of tour is not something I’d do on my own. Many thanks.

Ken

Fussa City, West Tokyo

We had thought of it as a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but now we want to go back and do it again. Maybe one of these years. Thanks for a fabulous tour!

Loreen and Bryan

Hayward, CA

Your idea to combine baseball and travel in Japan is more than just a tourist adventure. You provide travelers an insight that they simply couldn’t otherwise get without your expertise and enthusiasm.

Michelle

Chicago, IL