Photo credit: Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA)
Beemster Royaal Grand Cru® is the World Champion Cheese of 2026.
On March 5, 2026, at the World Championship Cheese Contest® in Madison, Wisconsin, Royaal Grand Cru was chosen out of 3,375 entries across 148 classes as the best cheese in the world with a score of 98.68 out of 100 points.
Launched in 1957, the World Championship Cheese Contest is the largest competition of its kind in the world. The entries were judged by an elite panel of international experts, including cheese graders, buyers, dairy science professors, and researchers from 22 countries, 12 U.S. states, and Puerto Rico.
The Beemster Royaal Grand Cru is a North Holland Gouda made in our dairy in the heart of the UNESCO protected site Beemster Polder in the Netherlands. The cheese has a firm, dense texture with tasty crystallization that develops from the year-long natural aging. The cheese has a Protected Designation of Origin guaranteeing the product is produced in and with milk from the famous province of North-Holland. The flavor has the iconic nutty flavor of traditional Gouda and sweet notes of toffee. Beemster developed the Royaal recipe to honor its appointment as Purveyor to the Royal Court of the Netherlands. This distinction is only granted to companies that are at least 100 years old, regionally significant and reflect Dutch culture.
CONO Kaasmakers is a small cooperative of dairy farmers and cheesemakers in North Holland who have been working together since 1901 to create exceptional cheeses. 2026 marks the 125th anniversary of the cooperative. As the cooperative has grown, it has remained rooted in its heritage – farms are all family-owned and located in North Holland, exceptional care is given to animal welfare, the cheese is made with historic recipes, the curds are stirred by hand, and cheeses are always naturally aged on wooden planks.
This championship is a moment of immense pride across the cooperative.
“Everything has to be right”
According to Sjoerd Hiemstra, Master Cheesemaker at CONO Kaasmakers, the recognition confirms what the cooperative strives for every day.
“When a cheese scores this high with an international jury, you know everything has to be right. From the milk and the cheesemaking process through the aging.”
Recognition for the entire cooperative
For Jerry Griep, CEO of CONO Kaasmakers, the title is a great compliment to the joint effort of the cooperative’s farmers and cheesemakers.
“As a local cooperative, we work together every day to create the finest cheeses. To see a cheese from the Beemster named the best cheese in the world makes us incredibly proud. It also shows the growing international interest in our cheeses. Around the world, people are looking for authentic products with a distinctive flavor. This title proves that a cheese from our polder is appreciated worldwide. It is wonderful to see so many international cheese experts place this cheese at the very top.”
125 Years and counting
Gijs Dankers, General Manager, Export
“It’s especially meaningful to receive this award this year as we celebrate the 125th anniversary of CONO Kaasmakers. This award reinforces our dedication to cheesemaking and the care that our farmers provide the cows and their stewardship of the land. From the farm through aging, we are deeply committed to excellence and this championship rewards everyone’s efforts in the most spectacular way.”
Gold medals for other cheeses from the Beemster
In addition to the World Champion title, several other cheeses from Beemster were also awarded gold medals at the competition: Beemster Hatch Pepper and Beemster Smoked both won Best in Class in their categories