Kampioenschap

Kampioenschap is a term used in Dutch and Flemish to denote both the title awarded to the winner of a championship competition and the competition itself in many sports and disciplines. The English equivalent is championship.

Etymologically, kampioenschap derives from kampioen (champion) and the suffix -schap, indicating a state or office. In Dutch-speaking contexts, it is used for national, regional, and international events that determine a champion.

Championships can be decided by different formats. In a league-style format, the team with the best record at season’s end is the kampioen. In knockout or playoff formats, a final match or series determines the champion. Some sports combine stages, with a round-robin followed by playoffs.

National championships are common across sports. In the Netherlands and Belgium, the national champions are called Nederlands kampioenschap or Vlaams kampioenschap; international variants include wereldkampioenschap and Europees kampioenschap. Winning a kampioenschap often confers prestige, a title, and potential qualification to higher-level events.

The concept is used in various competitive domains to denote the top competition and the eventual winner of that field. It represents a formal recognition of success attained through performance and can carry historical and cultural significance within Dutch-speaking sports communities.