The Netherlands will organize the next European Judo Championships for juniors. It will be held from 7 to 10 September 2023 in The Hague. The European Judo Union (EJU), the municipality of The Hague and Judo Bond Nederland announced this today in Prague where the official flag ceremony will take place to hand over the flag from the Czech organization to the Dutch organisers.
With the organisation of this Junior European Championship, a major international judo tournament will take place in the Netherlands for the first time in 5 years. For the international last, this was the case in 2017 and 2018, when the Grand Prix of The Hague was on the judo calendar.
Hilbert Bredemeijer, alderman for sports in The Hague: “The Hague is this year’s European Sports Capital, last year’s European Judo Championships for young talents were fantastic. I am therefore proud that we have the honor of organizing this event in The Hague and I am looking forward to a great collaboration with the Judo Bond and all judo enthusiasts in The Hague.”
Thomas van Gestel, board member at the JBN, endorses this feeling: “As Dutch Judo Association, we do everything we can to present our beautiful sports. For our talented judokas who compete in this age category, it is a fantastic incentive to get the best out of themselves and to measure themselves against European peers in front of full stands at home. The judo fans in the Netherlands will provide a wonderful atmosphere and we are all looking forward to making this tournament a great success.”
At the first day of the Europeans, the Dutch saw Julie Beurskens winning the gold and with her 18 years she is able to defend her title next year in The Hague.
The last time that the Dutch organized the European Championships was in 2002 in Rotterdam taking 6 medals. Also in 1983 and 1993 the Junior Europeans were held in the Netherlands, in Arnhem at Sports centre Papendal, the national training centre.
The last time that The Hague organized a European event was in 1996 when the Senior European Championships took place in coast city.
