Oranje-Rood’s men have reached the final stage of the Euro Hockey League, which NOS Sport describes as the biggest international club tournament in hockey. The Eindhoven club got there by winning both of its matches on home ground this weekend, beating Real Club de Polo of Spain 2-0 and Wimbledon of England 5-3.
What happened
According to NOS Sport, Oranje-Rood, coached by Ageeth Boomgaardt, started the weekend on Friday evening with a 2-0 win over Real Club de Polo. The second match, against Wimbledon, was also played at the club’s own ground in Eindhoven and ended 5-3 to Oranje-Rood. With those two wins, the team qualified for the last phase of the competition.
NOS Sport points to Struan Walker as the player who set Oranje-Rood on course, as he often does. The Scottish forward joined the Eindhoven club last year and finished his first season as top scorer in the hoofdklasse, the top division of Dutch hockey. Against Wimbledon he scored the opening goal: he controlled the ball well and then hit a fine shot on the turn.
After that, Tijmen Reyenga took over. He plays for the Dutch national team and takes Oranje-Rood’s penalty corners. NOS Sport reports that teammate Arthur De Sloover tapped in from Reyenga’s first penalty corner, and Reyenga then scored with a drag flick of his own. That made it 3-0, and the match looked almost won.
It did not stay comfortable. NOS Sport writes that Wimbledon refused to give up and made the game tense again, but Oranje-Rood held on to win. Walker played a key part once more, providing an assist and scoring again in the final quarter.
Why it matters if you live in Netherlands
If you are new to Dutch sport, the Euro Hockey League is where Europe’s top clubs play each other, and this season the Netherlands will be well represented at the decisive stage. NOS Sport reports that Oranje-Rood will be joined in the knockout phase by two other Dutch clubs, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. That gives the Netherlands three teams among the last twelve, all trying to become Europe’s best hockey club.
For people living in or near Eindhoven, this is a local success story. Oranje-Rood earned its place on its own ground, so the club’s supporters saw both wins in person. Residents of Amsterdam and Rotterdam also have a club from their own city in the final phase, which gives fans in all three regions a team to follow in the spring.
The story also shows how international Dutch club hockey is. Oranje-Rood’s key players this weekend included a Scottish forward, Walker, who has quickly become one of the most productive scorers in the Dutch league, alongside a Dutch international, Reyenga. If you have come to the Netherlands from abroad and are wondering whether to get into the sport, a club like Oranje-Rood is a good example of how players from different countries play side by side at the top level here.
NOS Sport does not say in this report how the knockout matches will be broadcast or where they will be played, so check the official Euro Hockey League channels and the clubs’ own websites nearer the time for details on tickets and live coverage.
What to watch next
NOS Sport says the last twelve teams will play the knockout phase in early April, over the Easter weekend. For anyone who wants to follow it, that is the date to mark in the calendar. It falls on a holiday weekend, which may suit families and fans hoping to watch or travel.
Several questions will decide how far the Dutch clubs get. One is whether Walker can keep up his scoring form. He was top scorer in the hoofdklasse in his first season and decisive again this weekend, so opponents in the knockout phase are likely to pay him close attention. Another is Oranje-Rood’s penalty corners. Reyenga was involved in two of the goals against Wimbledon, and set pieces often matter in tight knockout games.
Oranje-Rood will also want to avoid a repeat of the second half of the Wimbledon match. Going 3-0 up and then letting an opponent back into the game nearly cost them, and in a knockout format there is no second chance.
Finally, there is the wider Dutch picture. With Oranje-Rood, Amsterdam and Rotterdam all in the last twelve, the Netherlands has three chances of producing the champion. Whether any of them can win the title will become clear over the Easter weekend.
Source: NOS Sport
Sources
- NOS Sport: Hockeyers Oranje-Rood naar beste twaalf van Europa na goed weekend in eigen huis, accessed 11 October 2026
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