Orlando Yntema #40 of Netherlands pitches during the WBSC Premier 12 Group A match between Dominican Republic and the Netherlands at Estadio de Beisbol Charros de Jalisco on November 3, 2019, in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images)
The Koninklijke Nederlandse Baseball en Softball Bond announced on April 5 that they would play Aruba in a pair of exhibition games from Oct. 28 – Nov. 4 before the start of the World Baseball Softball Confederation event, the Premier12 tournament, which starts on November 10.
Aruba’s Minister of Sports, Endy Croes, and the KNBSB’s General Manager, Stefaan Eskes, signed the partnership contract on April 5 to confirm the Kingdom Series’s announcement.
According to Seb Visser from the Honkbalsoftball.nl website, “the purpose of the Kingdom Series in Aruba is, not just for the preparation for the Premier12 event, but also the promotion of baseball and the Netherlands team on the island and the promotion of Aruba within the entire Kingdom”.
The Ministry of Education and Sports of Aruba, the Aruba Tourism Authority, the Fundacion Lotto pa Deporte, Stichting Sportsubsidie Aruba, Fundacion Facilidadnan Deportivo, Instituto Biba Saludabel y Activo, Aruba Sport Unie, Double Down Sports Bar & Grill Restaurant, and Eagle Resort Aruba all collaborated with the KNBSB to hold the Kingdom Series event in November.
“It is a great opportunity to boost the sport on the island and increase the popularity of the Kingdom team. The collaboration with Aruba is very pleasant in both directions. We have been committed to raising the level of baseball within the entire Kingdom for years. For us, collaboration means, among other things, exchanging knowledge and experience, learning from each other and strengthening each other, on and off the field. The KNBSB is also consciously seeking cooperation with the Amateur Baseball Bond Aruba”, Eskes said on the Honkbalsofball.nl website.
The Kingdom Series was last held from October 31, 2022, until November 7, 2022, at Tio Daou Ballpark in Willemstad, Curacao, before the start of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. During that time frame, the Netherlands played against the Curacao national team and Aruba before Curacao played in the club tournament at the 2023 Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela.
The Netherlands went 2-2 at the 2023 WBC in Group A in Taichung, Taiwan, at Taichung Intercontinental Stadium against Cuba, Italy, Panama, and host nation Chinese Taipei and did not qualify for the quarterfinals due to the WBSC’s Total Quality Balance run differential rule. Cuba, Italy, Panama, and Chinese Taipei ended the 2023 WBC in Pool A at 2-2.
Gregor Rossen is the president of the KNBSB.
The Netherlands lost in the quarterfinals to the United States 6-1 in the first year of the Premier12 in 2015 after finishing 3-2 in third place of Group A in Taiwan. During the last Premier12 in 2019, the Netherlands went 0-3 in Group A at Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, and did not qualify for the next round.
The Netherlands is ranked No. 7 in the World Baseball Rankings provided by the WBSC.
The Premier12 tournament will be from November 10-24. The WBSC has not announced the game start times for the Premier12 tournament.