Netherlands: Baseball, softball and other sports shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions

Netherlands: Baseball, softball and other sports shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions
16/10/2020
The Netherlands, along with other European Nations (France, the UK, Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic), have unveiled new COVID-19 restrictions.

Dutch Baseball and softball leagues, as well as other sports, have shut down in the Netherlands due to new COVID-19 controls.

The Holland Baseball Series came to a stop with defending champions Amsterdam Pirates leading two games to none after winning on Sunday, 11 October, (3-1) and on Monday, 12 October (7-3) against Neptunus Rotterdam.

The Dutch National Softball 'Golden League' was also halted with the last games being held on 14 October.

The Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB) issued the following statement:

“It is unfortunate that we were not able to finish our already shortened 2020 season, but we understand the usefulness and necessity of these new corona measures. In any case, we're happy that we were able to play baseball and softball to the fullest [extent possible] from July 1."

The only sports leagues that are allowed to continue activity are the top men's and women's soccer leagues.

The National Olympic Committee sent a letter to Tamara Van Ark, the Minister for Medical Care and Sports, to extend to other team-sports' top leagues the exception made for the professional soccer leagues.