65 finals, but only one king for the Netherlands on the European Tour: Michael van Gerwen’s dominance by the numbers

The Netherlands ranks high among the most successful nations on the European Tour, but one name clearly stands out: Michael van Gerwen. Since the tournament began, Dutch players have reached no fewer than 65 finals, yet if you exclude Van Gerwen, the picture changes dramatically: just two wins from fifteen finals.

A look at the numbers shows how vital Van Gerwen has been for the Netherlands on the European Tour. Of his 50 finals, he won 38, an incredible 76% win rate. This success rate makes him not only the most successful Dutch player in the history of the European Tour, but also one of the most dominant figures in world darts.

Other Dutch players have had far less success in finals so far. Danny Noppert, Dirk van Duijvenbode, and Jelle Klaasen have each reached multiple finals, but are still seeking their first win. Gian van Veen and Benito van de Pas are in a similar position, with finals to their name but no title.

Fortunately, there are examples of Dutch success beyond Van Gerwen. Raymond van Barneveld and Vincent van der Voort have each won a final at the first attempt, proving that other Dutchmen can also step onto the top of the podium. Still, the numbers underline that the bulk of Dutch glory on the Euro Tour is owed to Van Gerwen.

In short, Dutch dominance on the Euro Tour is, to a large extent, the story of one man. Van Gerwen not only lifts himself to the summit, but he also represents the Netherlands as a leading darts nation in Europe. For the other Dutch players, matching his success and building on Van Gerwen’s legacy remains a challenge.

The European Tour continues on the weekend of March 13-15. The European Darts Trophy is on the schedule in Göttingen. Nathan Aspinall defends his title there after beating Ryan Joyce 8-4 in last year’s final.