Netherlands World Baseball Classic uniforms: Inside the 'clean' home, away jerseys & hats for 2023 WBC

David Suggs

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Netherlands World Baseball Classic uniforms: Inside the 'clean' home, away jerseys & hats for 2023 WBC image

Orange crushed.

Slated to take part in its fifth World Baseball Classic in as many attempts, Netherlands has firmly established itself as the cream of the crop around Europe over the past few decades.

That should only continue in 2023, with perennial all-stars like Xander Bogaerts and Kenley Jansen leading an experienced Dutch side as it looks improve upon a semifinal appearance in 2017.

When it comes to international sporting events, the Dutch tend to sport loud, bright orange, a departure from the red, white and blue tricolor used for their nation's flag. Although a fashion statement, that pop of color can make the sport of baseball quite challenging. So, Netherlands is getting creative with their 2023 WBC fits.

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Netherlands World Baseball Classic uniforms

When examining Netherlands' 2023 WBC uniforms, the devil is in the details. The Dutch team's jerseys resemble that of the classic pinstripes of the late 1990s-early 2000s Astros, thin and understated. If you squint hard enough, it might remind you of the Rockies' old jerseys, even down to the font on the shirts.

However, there are a few finer points that set this kit apart. For starters, each Netherlands player will wear a lid fit for a king. Literally. The Dutch insignia on their hats isn't an "N", nor a flag. Rather, it's an ornately embroidered crown, one draped in that iconic Dutch orange we all know and love. 

That crown also features on the jerseys, although it loses its pumpkin-like disposition when Netherland wears its primarily white uniforms. No matter, though. Because accompanying the crown is none other than Netherlands' official honorific: the Kingdom of Netherlands. How classy.

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It seems the Dutch are content with rocking shades, not hues, with the primary color for each of their two uniforms being black and white. Still, slight hints of orange will be present on hats, batting helmets and, in the black jersey's case, even on different parts of the shirt.

So don't be alarmed when you see Bogaerts, Jansen and company in more subdued colors. Netherlands wants to put on a show this WBC. Perhaps that can be done in as simple a pattern as possible.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.