“I said there were no tournaments in the Netherlands that year. Then they said: ‘Yes there are, Maastricht.’ I said: ‘That doesn’t count.": Van der Voort jokes about World Series event in Limburg
PDC
The fifteenth and final tournament of the PDC European Tour 2026 takes place this year in Maastricht. The Dutch Darts Championships at the MECC offers several players a last chance to qualify for the European Championship Darts.
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Vincent van der Voort is known for not mincing his words. Even in a chat about the Dutch darts calendar, the former professional cannot resist a provocative remark. When Maastricht comes up, though, Van der Voort immediately laughs. From experience, he knows comments about the Limburg city can be sensitive.
On the podcast Darts Draait Door, Damian Vlottes asked Van der Voort whether he thinks Maastricht is a beautiful city. Van der Voort initially keeps it vague. “I’m not going to say anything about that,” he says tellingly. When asked why not, he explains that he once got himself into trouble in the past with his opinion on Maastricht.
“I once said that Maastricht doesn’t belong to the Netherlands. Then you immediately get a lot of Limburgers coming after you and there’s nothing you can do,” Van der Voort says with a wink.
The trigger for that earlier comment had everything to do with the international darts calendar. According to Van der Voort, it looked for a long time as if no major PDC tournament would be staged in the Netherlands that year. When people then pointed to the World Series of Darts in Maastricht, the North Hollander could not resist adding a caveat.
“I said there were no tournaments in the Netherlands that year. Then they said: ‘Yes there are, Maastricht.’ I said: ‘That doesn’t count.’ But people pick up on those things quickly,” says Van der Voort.
“I don’t do that anymore”
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The former pro has learned from that. A bold statement can take on a life of its own on social media or in the press. Especially when it concerns a city with a passionate fanbase. “So I don’t do that anymore,” he admits.
While Van der Voort would rather not spark a fresh debate about Maastricht, he is looking forward to the next major darts event in the Netherlands. In September, the World Series of Darts Finals returns to Amsterdam. That tournament is traditionally one of the highlights on the Dutch darts calendar and brings together the world’s elite.
Vincent van der Voort competed for years as a professional
Striking reaction
When Amsterdam is mentioned, another striking reaction follows from Van der Voort. The interviewer calls Amsterdam a wonderful venue, and the former player agrees. “Yes, absolutely.”
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Still, there is a small caveat. Van der Voort makes clear that his enthusiasm is mainly about the event rather than the capital itself. “I don’t like Amsterdam as a city at all,” he says frankly.
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There is, however, one big exception that changes everything for Van der Voort: football. “But it is the most beautiful football club in the world,” he adds with a laugh.
With his trademark dry humor, Van der Voort once again shows why he is popular as an analyst and conversationalist. He doesn’t hold back, but he also knows some remarks are best delivered with a big wink. Especially when it’s about Maastricht.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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