The BENE-League is a multinational handball competition for men's teams from Belgium and the Netherlands, which started in January 2008 under the name BENE-LIGA. Between 2010 and 2014, Luxembourg teams also participated in the tournament that was then called Benelux League.
Current season, competition or edition: 2021–22 BENE-League Handball | |
 | |
| Sport | Handball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
| No. of teams | 11 |
| Country | Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg (former) |
| Confederation | EHF |
| Most recent champion(s) | KEMBIT-LIONS |
| Most titles | Achilles Bocholt (5 titles) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Official website | Website |
History edit
The idea of setting up a collaboration between the Belgian and Dutch top clubs dates back to the 1980s. However, as in many other sports, it was mainly talked about. However, in 2006 it all became more concrete. A system was devised to better frame the friendly matches from the preparation period, and a knock-out system was set up: quarter-finals in round-trip matches between the top 4 from Belgium and the Netherlands, and the winners would compete in a Final 4. At the end of 2007 it was announced that eight teams from the Netherlands and Belgium would compete against each other. The goal was to start a full Bene Liga competition in 2010 with more teams from the Low Countries.
The first edition of the Bene Liga was played in 2008 as a kind of cup formula. On the Belgian side, the first was kicked off by Initia Hasselt, Tongeren, Neerpelt and KV Sasja HC. Volendam, Aalsmeer, Hellas and Bevo HC from the Netherlands took part. The start of the BENE-Liga was, symbolically, announced in Baarle-Hertog. Evert ten Napel, a well-known Dutch sports reporter led the press conference. In the first edition of the BENE-Liga, KV Sasja became champion.
2023–24 season edit
- Below is the list of clubs that are members of the 2023–24 BENE-League Handball season.
| Country | Team | City | Venue |
 Belgium
|
Sezoens Achilles Bocholt | Bocholt | Sportcomplex De Damburg |
| KTSV Eupen | Eupen | Sportcentrum Eupen | |
| Filou Izegem | Izegem | Sporthal De Kachtem | |
| Hubo Handbal | Hasselt, Tongeren | Sporthal Alverberg (Hasselt), Eburons Dôme (Tongeren) | |
| Sporting Pelt | Neerpelt | Dommelhof | |
| HC Visé BM | Visé | Hall Omnisports de Visé | |
 Netherlands
|
Green Park/Aalsmeer | Aalsmeer | Sporthal De Bloemhof |
| Herpertz/BEVO HC | Panningen | SportArena De Heuf | |
| Handbal Houten | Houten | Sportcentrum The Dome | |
| Drenth Groep/Hurry Up | Zwartemeer | Succes Holidayparcs Arena | |
| KEMBIT-LIONS | Sittard-Geleen | Stadssporthal Sittard | |
| KRAS/Volendam | Volendam | Sporthal de Opperdam |
Below is the list of winners, finalists and other participants of Final four BENE-League tournaments.
Hosts edit
| Year | Final four host | Hall | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Lommel
|
Sportcentrum de Soeverein | 30 Juny–1 July 2008 |
| 2008–09 | Tongeren
|
Eburons Dôme | 30-31 May 2009 |
| 2009–10 |  Luxembourg City
|
Coque Sport Cente | 20-21 February 2010 |
| 2010–11 | Hoboken
|
Sporthal Sport VIII | 26-27 February 2011 |
| 2011–12 | Volendam
|
Sporthal de Opperdam | 3-4 March 2012 |
| 2012–13 | Houthalen-Helchteren
|
Sportpark Lakerveld | ? |
| 2013–14 | Differdange
|
Differdange Sports Center | ? |
| 2014–15 | Hasselt
|
Sporthal de Alverberg | 7-8 February 2015 |
| 2015–16 | Sittard
|
Topsporthal Fitland XL Sittard | 6-7 February 2016 |
| 2016–17 | Hasselt
|
Sporthal de Alverberg | 25-26 February 2017 |
| 2017–19 | 's-Hertogenbosch
|
Maaspoort | 17-18 March 2018 |
| 2018–19 | Antwerp
|
Lotto Arena | 30-31 March 2019 |
| 2019–20 | 's-Hertogenbosch
|
Maaspoort | |
| 2019–20 | Season canceled | ||
| 2021–22 | 's-Hertogenbosch
|
Maaspoort | 26-27 March 2022 |
| 2022–23 | Bocholt
|
Sportcomplex De Damburg | 18 March 2023 |
Records and statistics edit
By club edit
| Club | Won | Runner-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bocholt
|
5
|
2
|
2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 | 2010, 2022 |
| Volendam
|
3
|
2
|
2010, 2011, 2012 | 2009, 2013 |
| Hasselt
|
2
|
1
|
2014, 2016 | 2012 |
| Limburg Lions
|
2
|
5
|
2015, 2022 | 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 |
| Aalsmeer
|
1
|
0
|
2009 | |
| Sasja
|
1
|
0
|
2008 | |
| Bevo HC
|
0
|
2
|
2008, 2014 | |
| Berchem
|
0
|
1
|
2011 | |
| HC Visé BM
|
0
|
1
|
2019 |
By country edit
| Club / Nation | Won | Runner-up | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium
|
8
|
4
|
11
|
| Netherlands
|
6
|
9
|
14
|
| Luxembourg
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
| Total | 13 | 13 | 26 |