With less than two months to go, the countdown is on for the 4th Storm Junior Dutch Open, running September 4 to 6, 2026, in Haarlem.

The world's top junior bowlers are set to land on the Netherlands for three days of non-urethane competition at a freshly rebranded venue - Marty's Bars & Bowling.

For the fourth edition, the tournament organizers and main sponsor, Storm Bowling, are delivering high level competition alongside a boosted prize structure for this year's field.

Building on a Strong 2025 Edition

The tournament returns after a memorable 2025 edition that brought together more than 70 talented youth bowlers from across Europe.

Last year, the Storm Junior Dutch Open featured three age divisions, Under 15, Under 19, and Under 26.

The U15 division was won by Sweden's Charlie Classon, the U19 title went to the Czech Republic's Matyáš Mňačko, and the U26 division saw Zuzana Kvasničková of the Czech Republic claim the title before later capturing the Masters crown as well, becoming the first female player to win the award.

A Youth Event That Keeps Growing

The 2026 edition introduces an expanded format with six divisions, three for boys and three for girls, split by age:

• Category 1 and 2 (Boys/Girls): born after June 30, 2012, ages 8 to 14
• Category 3 and 4 (Boys/Girls): born after June 30, 2008, ages 15 to 18
• Category 5 and 6 (Boys/Girls): born after June 30, 2000, ages 19 to 25

Open to all bowlers up to age 25, the event continues to serve as a serious competitive platform for bowling's next generation.

All categories play the same format:

• 6 games of qualification, with up to two re-entries allowed per player
• 4-game semi-finals, where the top six from each category advance with scores carried forward
• 3-game finals, where the top four advance
• A single Masters game, where scores reset to zero and only the highest game wins, one champion for boys and one for girls

The Masters winners each take home an exclusive trophy valued at €350, and whoever bowls the tournament's first 300 game collects an extra €300.

A New Look for the Venue: Marty's Bars & Bowling

This year’s event will also take place in a venue with a new identity. Bison Bowling Haarlem is becoming Marty’s Bars & Bowling, a name that reflects the wider experience now built around the center.

At the heart of the venue are 16 modern bowling lanes with high-quality AMF equipment, including AMF SPL lane surfaces, AMF Edge Freefall pinsetters and Qubica scoring. Alongside the upgraded bowling setup, the center also offers food, drinks and a more social setting for players, families and visitors.

The location remains the same, but the new branding presents the venue as a more complete and modern bowling destination. It keeps the focus on strong playing conditions, while adding more comfort and atmosphere around the tournament experience.

Oil Pattern

Bigger Prize Fund for 2026

Prize money scales with total entries in each category, with winners across all six divisions taking home Storm bowling balls, accessories, and VIS Sportwear tournament shirts. The more players register in a division, the larger that division's prize pool grows.

Two sponsors have since added an extra layer of prize money on top of that structure.

A separate ranking, apart from the official standings, will track which boy and girl, from the Netherlands and from abroad, throws the highest average above their personal average during their first entry. The four winners across those categories will each take home an extra €125 in cash.

More Than Just Scores

For many players, this week in Haarlem will not just be about scores. It will be about testing themselves against international competition, building friendships, and gaining experience that shapes their future in the sport.