Eerste Klasse club De Kieviten has received the green light from the KNCB for their proposed merger with Voorburg. The KNCB board has also decided that the joint club will retain Eerste Klasse status, with the Voorburg Second XI taking over De Kieviten’s position.

The cricket section of De Kieviten dates back to 1947 (the club itself was established in 1926), but its membership of about thirty is greatly outweighed by a hockey section of around 1000 and a golf section of 500.

With the hockey season gradually extending into both ends of the summer, ground availability was becoming increasingly difficult. The development of two artificial hockey pitches had already forced the cricketers to relocate twice, and plans for a third artificial pitch would make it virtually impossible to find a suitable ground for cricket.

Unable to influence club policy, the cricket section has been looking to a possible merger, and concluded that Voorburg, as one of the few cricket-only clubs in The Netherlands, was the most attractive option.

‘We are also impressed by the way in which Voorburg is able to integrate members of the Asian community and itinerant expatriates into the club structure,’ says Kieviten spokesman John Colbran.

‘Our club profile fits that balance well, and we look forward to playing under the Voorburg flag.’

The deal means that Voorburg will field one additional team in the coming season, with the Second XI initially retaining something of its old Kieviten identity. The side finished fourth in the Eerste Klasse in 2007, briefly figuring in promotion calculations after a run of eight straight wins in the latter part of the season.

The remaining players from De Kieviten will be integrated into Voorburg’s four lower-level teams.