Butchery Koen van Vugt in Drunen won the 2026 competition for the best meatball in the Netherlands, organized by the Royal Dutch Butchers (KNS). Slagerij Beerens from Eindhoven finished second and Gelderblom Slagerij De Kwant from Hank third; butchers from Udenhout and Made also reached the top ten. The jury assessed shape, composition, smell, colour, taste and consistency, and said the winning entry stood out mainly for its taste and craftsmanship.

The butchery, which employs 26 people, is celebrating with its team and customers. On the day after the win, staff planned to make at least 2,000 to 3,000 meatballs. Koen van Vugt said the recipe, which is kept secret, uses chopped meat, salt, pepper, mace, ginger and cardamom, without onion or garlic. The butchery had previously won the title in 2012 and had regularly placed among the top ten in recent years.