Netherlands Wins World Champion Title with Beemster Royaal Grand Cru

After three days of intense competition, a rich, nutty, cow’s milk cheese has been named the 2026 World Champion Cheese. The cheese, Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, is made by CONO Kaasmakers in Westbeemster, Netherlands. With an impressive score of 98.68 out of 100, Beemster Royaal Grand Cru topped 3,375 entries in this year’s World Championship Cheese Contest® to win the coveted top prize.

First runner-up in the contest, with a score of 98.45, is Appenzeller® Purple Label, an aged Appenzeller made by Lucas Meier and Käserei Kirchberg in Appenzell, Switzerland. The second runner-up, coming in just four-hundredths of a point behind with a score of 98.41, is an Aged Washed Rind/Smear Ripened Hard Cheeses called Alter Fritz made by Hardegger Käse AG in Jonschwil, Switzerland.

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March 9, 2026

dairybusiness.com