Joost Luiten is hoping the Dutch fans can roar a home hero to victory this week as he goes for a third win at the KLM Open.
The local favourite is one of just five Dutchmen to have lifted the trophy since 1912, having tasted victory in 2013 and 2016.
He was also present as a teenage fan in 2003 when Maarten Lafaber became the first home player in the DP World Tour era to win their home open.
Luiten has been the main attraction at this event for over a decade now, so he perhaps understands better than anyone the feeling of playing with both the support and the expectation of a big crowd.
It was less than a week ago that he teed it up in Austria alongside Ryder Cup hero Sepp Straka and with those memories fresh in his mind, he is ready to put on a show for the fans at The International.
“I played with Sepp Straka on the Saturday last week and it was unbelievable to see the crowds and for me it was great practice,” he said. “I know it’s going to be busy this week so for me I really used it as practice.
“It’s great to see that people are still supporting their local golfers and their local heroes and I know it’s going to happen this week, hopefully not only when I’m playing but also when the other Dutch guys are playing there will be a lot of orange on the golf course.
“For some reason I feel that when there is a big crowd it helps the Dutchies to play well.
“I’ve been lucky enough to win it twice and that creates something with the crowd that they expect that you win it every year, which is cool.
“I think it’s really important that the Dutchies do well and be up there on Sunday and that always creates an extra vibe to the tournament so let’s see if we can do that again.”
Luiten may have been the flagbearer for Dutch golf in recent years with his six DP World Tour victories but he has not been alone, with Darius van Driel also winning at the 2024 Magical Kenya Open.
Qualifying School graduate Mike Toorop also has full playing privileges for 2026, while recent Tour regulars Daan Huzing and Wil Besseling are also in the field this week.
“There’s always something to complain about and we Dutchies are really good at complaining,” joked Luiten. “But we need to be happy that we have three players (on Tour). It could always be better but it could always be worse.
“Darius is playing well, he won a tournament, and I know there is a good generation coming that is a little bit younger, they need a little bit of time but I’m sure that in the next five to ten years there will be more Dutch boys on tour.
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“All I can try and do is help them wherever I can but at the end of the day they need to do it themselves and be eager to practise and compete and to get better.”
This year will see The International host the event for the third time in a row before it moves on to Kennemer Golf & Country Club in Zandvoort next season.
The Amsterdam layout was also host venue in 2019 for the 100th edition of the Netherlands’ national open and Luiten will take fond memories from the times played here.
“The course plays really tough,” he said. “The way they set it up with the high rough, I think that’s what it needs otherwise it’s an open field so I think the set-up is really good. The weather has been tough the last couple of years.
"For me in 2019, when it was the 100th KLM Open we played here and I finished tenth with one of my best friends on the bag, that was a very special week to spend with him.”
