Dutch Beemster cheese wins 2026 World Champion title in Wisconsin

Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, a cheese produced by CONO Kaasmakers in Westbeemster, Netherlands, was named the 2026 World Champion Cheese at the World Championship Cheese Contest, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association announced. The cow’s milk cheese scored 98.68 out of 100, outperforming 3,375 entries from 25 countries and 34 U.S. states.

Beemster Royaal Grand Cru is noted for its rich, nutty flavor, firm texture, and characteristic ripening crystals, all derived from 100 percent Noord Holland pasture milk.

Sjoerd Hiemstra, cheese master at CONO Kaasmakers, said the recognition confirmed the quality of the cooperative’s process. “When a cheese scores so highly with an international jury, you know that everything is just right. From the milk to the making of the cheese to the ripening,” he said.

Second place went to Appenzeller Purple Label, an aged Swiss cheese made by Lucas Meier and Käserei Kirchberg, which scored 98.45, while Alter Fritz, also from Switzerland, placed third with 98.41. John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, described the top finishers as being separated by mere fractions of a point.

Jerry Griep, managing director of CONO Kaasmakers, called the award a recognition of the combined efforts of the cooperative’s dairy farmers and cheesemakers. “People all over the world are looking for authentic products with a distinctive flavor. This title shows that a cheese from our polder is appreciated worldwide,” he said.

In addition to Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, other Beemster cheeses received gold medals: Beemster 30+ Mature, Beemster Jalapeño, and Beemster Smoked. The contest, held March 3–5, is considered the world’s largest technical evaluation of dairy products.

U.S. cheesemakers claimed the most Best of Class awards overall with 96, led by Wisconsin processors with 45 first-place finishes. New York and Vermont followed with eight and seven top finishes, respectively.

Switzerland and the Netherlands each earned 12 gold medals, while Australia and Spain took five each. Other countries with gold awards included Austria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, and Sweden.