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A team huddles arm in arm along the fence.

Little League in the Netherlands since 1958

From three teams on one field in Williamsport to a national championship with regional selections from all over the country.

The beginning

Softball team in Holland jerseys poses smiling with a Dutch flag and a Little League European Region banner.
Team Holland softball with the flag at a European Little League tournament. From the archive.
Softball game seen from a packed stand, with the infield, umpires and a scoreboard in the background.
Packed stands at an international softball tournament. From the archive.
Team Europe players in blue jerseys sit in a circle on the grass around their coaches, with flags in the background.
Team Europe talks things over on the grass, with the Dutch flag in the background. From the archive.

International

Little League began in 1939 in Williamsport, where Carl Stotz set up a youth league so children could play baseball in an accessible and enjoyable way. What started with three teams quickly grew into a worldwide phenomenon.

In 1947 the first Little League World Series was held, a tournament that today draws millions of viewers every year and brings together teams from all over the world.

In the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, Little League was introduced under the flag of the KNBSB (opens in a new tab), the national baseball and softball federation, to give young players extra chances to develop alongside the regular competition. Over the years it has grown into an important platform for talent development in Dutch baseball and softball. Regional selections train together, play the national championship and get the chance to move on to European and even world championships.

The NK Little League has been held since 2001. More than fifty baseball and softball teams with players aged 10 to 16 compete over the Whitsun weekend for the Dutch title and a place at the European championship.

Worldwide and in the Netherlands, Little League stands for fun, development and international connection: a unique combination of sport, education and experience for young athletes.

The timeline

Little League begint

In Williamsport, Pennsylvania: drie teams, één veld en het idee dat kinderen op hun eigen maat moeten spelen.

Eerste Little League World Series

In Williamsport wordt de eerste World Series gespeeld. Het toernooi trekt nu jaarlijks miljoenen kijkers en brengt teams uit de hele wereld samen.

De eerste Nederlandse Little League

Clubs richten jeugdafdelingen op volgens het Amerikaanse model. Er wordt gespeeld op ingekorte velden, met ouders als coach en umpire.

Het eerste NK Little League

Regionale selecties spelen voor het eerst om het Nederlands kampioenschap. De winnaars gaan door naar het Europees kampioenschap.

The 2027 championship

Whitsun 15 to 17 May in Amsterdam Pirates and BSC Almere. To the tournament ›

The timeline is not complete yet

Between 1958 and now lie almost seventy years of history. We fill it in as soon as the foundation's board has confirmed the dates. Do you know more? Let us know.

In pictures

The 2026 championship first, then the archive. From the champions' banner to the pitcher's circle.

Softball team in blue shirts cheers with arms raised behind a banner reading Nederlands Kampioen Little League.
Champions behind the banner, 2026 championship.
A young supporter with red face paint smiles as he holds up a gold trophy.
The trophy is almost as tall as he is, 2026 championship.
Softball player slides into home plate through a cloud of dust as the crowd watches from behind the fence.
All or nothing at home plate, 2026 championship.
A pitcher in the yellow and black Lions shirt winds up to throw.
A Lions pitcher on the mound, 2026 championship.
Two baseball players hug after the game, one still wearing his catcher's mask.
After the final game, 2026 championship.
Young baseball players in yellow jerseys lean over the dugout fence and watch the field, with a grandstand behind them.
Watching from the dugout, 2022 championship.
Softball pitcher in a black jersey and pink socks throws a yellow ball underhand as the dirt flies up.
Pitcher in action in the circle, 2025 championship.
Softball team in purple Vipers jerseys cheers with thumbs up and peace signs on a dirt field.
The Vipers from Midden-Nederland, 2022 championship.
Softball player in an orange jersey and face mask crouches ready with her glove on the infield.
Ready for the ball, 2024 championship.
Two young baseball players in red NK Little League caps walk off the field, one holding a ball and glove.
In the jersey marking 25 years of NK Little League, 2025 championship.

Champions

The results per edition are listed with the edition itself. Every edition stays, in the same form.

The roll of honour is being built

From the first season in this system onwards, the champions per league will be listed here.
View all editions

And beyond: the World Series

The Dutch champion plays the European qualifying tournament in the summer. Whoever wins there goes to Williamsport, where it all began in 1939.

International