"Dutch darts just isn’t delivering... things feel a bit flat" - Is there a real reason for concern in the Netherlands?

Wessel Nijman gave Dutch darts fans something to cheer about with an eye-catching performance at Players Championship 13, where he not only threw a nine-darter but also reached the quarterfinals. It was a reminder of the talent coming through the ranks. However, not everyone is feeling optimistic about the bigger picture.

On the Darts Draait Door podcast, former top player Vincent van der Voort shared his growing concerns about the overall state of Dutch darts.

While impressed by Nijman’s run, Van der Voort felt there could have been more. “Looking at the remaining field, it really could’ve been a great day for him,” he said. “It’s still a strong result, but you always hope for that next step.”

And that, according to Van der Voort, is exactly what’s missing for many Dutch players right now. “At the moment, Dutch darts just isn’t delivering. Things aren’t going particularly well,” he said. When host Damian Vlottes asked which players he was referring to, Van der Voort didn’t hesitate: “All of them.”

Names like Gian van Veen, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Jermaine Wattimena, and Danny Noppert came up during the conversation - but none, in Van der Voort’s view, are currently performing at the level expected of them.

“Gian’s doing pretty well. Dirk is okay - he’s working his way back. Jermaine’s faded a little. He’s still playing solidly, but those standout results aren’t there anymore. And Noppert hasn’t quite found his rhythm yet in the Euro Tours or Pro Tours,” he explained.

As for Raymond van Barneveld, the outlook wasn’t much brighter. “Raymond still hasn’t managed to turn things around. So no, things aren’t going well there either. Niels Zonneveld’s doing reasonably well - he’s really fighting to qualify for the World Matchplay. But that comes with added pressure.”

Turning back to Nijman, Van der Voort remained cautiously optimistic. “He’s doing well, but maybe I expect too much. I really rate Wessel highly. Reaching the quarterfinals is impressive, no doubt. But with so many Dutch players, you’d hope to see a few of them making the semis or finals. Right now, things feel a bit flat. The performances could be better.”

Interestingly, Michael van Gerwen’s name wasn’t mentioned for much of the discussion. But in Van der Voort’s view, the former world number one’s recent struggles speak volumes about the broader state of Dutch darts.

“We’re used to Michael winning at least one or two events,” he said. “But so far this year, he hasn’t shown anything.”

Van der Voort still believes Van Gerwen will qualify for the Players Championship Finals, but he admits the warning signs are there. “I recently saw a list of the top thirty players in terms of prize money this year - Michael wasn’t on it. That’s a real concern. Something needs to change.”