“I also told him: no one is afraid of you anymore” – Van der Voort sees Van Gerwen’s problem growing

Dutch darts enjoyed a remarkably strong weekend on the European Tour in Göttingen, where several compatriots made a major impression and Wessel Nijman ultimately claimed the title.

In the podcast Darts Draait Door, Vincent van der Voort reflected on the tournament and spoke of a clear shift at the top of Dutch darts. According to the former professional, the moment has come for a new generation to firmly announce itself. “It was a truly fantastic weekend for the Netherlands,” said Van der Voort. “Unbelievable how many players went deep.”

While established names like Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen, and Danny Noppert remained relatively quiet, it was other Dutchmen who stole the show. With the likes of Niels Zonneveld, Wessel Nijman, and Dirk van Duijvenbode going deep into the tournament, the weekend took on a distinctly Dutch flavor.

“It’s great to see the new generation taking over now,” Van der Voort said. “Especially when you look at Zonneveld and Nijman, they really had a fantastic weekend.”

The starring role belonged to Wessel Nijman, who captured his first title on the European Tour at the European Darts Trophy, doing so in emphatic fashion. According to Van der Voort, there was no doubt about the best player of the weekend. “No one really came close,” he said. “Not even a little. He just blew everyone away. Hats off.”

Whereas Nijman sometimes struggled with pressure in key moments in the past, Van der Voort saw a completely different player at work in Göttingen. “What you used to see was him just missing tops in tight moments. But now it was so clinical, so good. His whole presence exuded confidence. I don’t think he missed many darts by much at all.”

The analyst was most impressed by the way Nijman controlled his matches. Tension barely arose because he simply didn’t allow his opponents into the game. “That’s the best tactic,” Van der Voort said with a smile. “Then nothing can go wrong.”

He even drew a comparison with a rare level of dominance he had seen before on tour. “I’ve experienced that once before with Jamie Hughes. He had an Euro Tour where he just wiped everyone off the board. No one came close. Nijman had that this weekend as well.”

Nijman’s convincing performances are no coincidence, according to Van der Voort, and fit a broader trend. The Dutchman is now closing in on the top 16 in the world and appears ready for the next step. “He’s already very close to the top 16 and he’ll get in there,” said Van der Voort. “At this level, anything is possible.”

Even so, the number of Dutch Euro Tour winners remains limited. Nijman’s victory adds a new name to the list, but Van der Voort still finds the total strikingly low. “For such a major darts nation like the Netherlands, I actually think it’s quite few,” he said. “There are also a few players who feel they should already be on that list.”

One of those players is Dirk van Duijvenbode, who came close to a Euro Tour title several times but fell just short on each occasion. “I think Dirk came the closest of all,” said Van der Voort. “He missed multiple match darts. That’s tough. But hey, there’s now another Dutch winner.”

Alongside Nijman, Niels Zonneveld was one of the standout performers of the weekend. The Dutchman reached the semi-finals and recorded several fine wins along the way, including a convincing victory over Michael van Gerwen. Van der Voort saw a player who has clearly developed. “I think Niels played a truly fantastic tournament,” he said.

The semi-final against Nijman ultimately proved a step too far, but Van der Voort felt it wasn’t due to a lack of quality. “I think he simply played well, but ran into someone who was fantastic,” he analyzed. “That was his misfortune: he met Wessel Nijman, who may have played the best tournament of his career.”

Zonneveld especially impressed with his scoring, but was repeatedly put under immediate pressure by the high standard of his opponent. “If your opponent hits a 180 in each of the first three legs and takes everything out straight away, you’re chasing the game. You don’t get back in,” said Van der Voort.

While Zonneveld radiated confidence, that currently applies less to Michael van Gerwen, according to Van der Voort. The three-time world champion posted high averages in Göttingen, but came up short at crucial moments.

“Averages don’t tell the whole story,” said Van der Voort. “Van Gerwen averages 107, but still misses key moments. Those are the moments that decide a match.”

The former professional believes the issue runs deeper than just an off day. He sees a structural change in how opponents view Van Gerwen. “I also told him: no one is afraid of you anymore,” Van der Voort revealed. “In the past, players thought: if Van Gerwen hits his best form, I lose. But that feeling is gone now.”

He believes this has a direct impact on how matches are played. “Everyone now thinks: if he has an off day, he’s there for the taking. And that happens regularly. It’s no longer a one-off.”

Van der Voort’s conclusion is clear: Van Gerwen will have to take the initiative himself to restore that aura. “He has to force it himself again,” he said. “He’ll have to work hard for it. That’s the challenge he faces now.”