Dutchman becomes first from the Netherlands to win British cheese rolling race

A Dutch citizen has won the latest cheese rolling race in Gloucestershire, England. This is the first time a person from the Netherlands has ever won the competition.

First Dutchman wins historic British cheese rolling race

The historic cheese rolling race in England has become a well-known event worldwide and for the first time ever, a Dutchman has claimed the win. 21-year-old Niels Wennemars took part in one of the three races on May 26 and managed to scramble down the 180-metre hill with a 26-degree gradient faster than the other participants, ending with a forward roll. 

Wennemars creates social media content focusing on unusual and extreme sport challenges, so it’s not surprising that he opted to take part in the cheese roll. "We are the land of cheese, after all. But no Dutchman had ever tried it before,” he told NOS. “I thought: I'm going to do this, and I went in for the win."

The cheese rolling competition has been taking place since 1836 and in all those years, no one has caught the cheese. The race is not without its risks, as participants often fall on the steep hill on the way down, rolling and colliding with others in pursuit of the cheese.

Dutchman brings the cheese home

Wennemars is the brother and son of Olympic speed skaters Joep and Erben Wennemars. The first Dutch cheese rolling champion was surprised by the amount of attention his win received, from international media to locals of the host village.

"I'm a god here!" he said. "I've already had my picture taken with people 200 times, without exaggeration. And when I walk around here with this cheese, I get free drinks everywhere." Wennemars is bringing the Double Gloucester cheese back to the Netherlands to share with his family and friends.