It's the equivalent of shipping rugby players to Amsterdam, with half-a-dozen Dutch cricketers making Tauranga their home for the next six months, based at Te Puna's Cricket Coaching Academy run by Bay of Plenty allrounder Ben Williams.
The Royal Dutch Cricket Association have sent six of their country's brightest under-19 players to New Zealand, investing in the future and hoping to set a platform for future international success. Williams spends six months each year coaching in Holland and has mentored some of the New Zealand-based players in the past.
Dirk van Baren (VOC), Joost Krosen (Excelsior 20) and Paul van Meekersen (Rood en Wit) are playing for Te Puke, with Sebastiaan Braat (Hermes-DVS), James Guitjers (Quick Haag) and Philip Kingma fronting for Greerton.
The Netherlands national team coach spent 10 days with the squad, at the academy in Te Puna, reviewing the facilities and training schedules for the players. Braat, 18, said he was already feeling the improvements in his game since arriving on October 1. "I know I'm definitely improving and we've only been here for two weeks, especially with the conditioning training - I feel fitter and stronger."
The squad's schedule includes two training sessions a day, three gym sessions a week and weekly club cricket commitments.
The players are given Friday off before playing games on Saturday.
Van Baren, 18, said he was impressed by the culture and popularity of cricket in New Zealand. "It's good to see the culture and how everyone enjoys cricket in New Zealand."
Allard van Vleit, 18, said it was a contrast to the game in Holland. "People back home are more likely to think you're talking about croquet when you mention cricket."
The squad display a good range of strengths with two seam bowlers, two spinners, a batsman and an allrounder among their ranks.
Van Baren said the mix of strengths was making the players better. "Everyone is working on their weaknesses by taking advantage of each other's strengths."
Braat said the biggest benefit he was taking from the coaching was a broader range of shot selection. "I'm good at hitting spinners over the top but for me I need to work on a sweep shot. In modern cricket you have to be able to play those shots."
One more Dutch player will join the ranks, due to arrive in the country next week.
Williams said the squad was perfectly positioned to take advantage of the first spin bowling machine seen in New Zealand, which is due here in three weeks at the academy. Williams said it was possible the Netherlands team would look to use the training facility as a base for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. The squad are staying at the academy, sharing rooms of two. They are being taught how to cook by Williams' sister, who currently helps with dinners. Gruijters, 18, said the players were getting along great, with their battles taking place on the pitch rather than off it.
Meanwhile, in tomorrow's Baywide Bay of Plenty Cup games, Platinum Pacific Reclad Mt Maunganui's clash with Element IMF Cadets at Tauranga Domain is the pick of round four as games move off artificial on to grass wickets for the first time. Tauranga Boys' College host Te Puke at Nicholson Field, with Central squaring off with Rotorua Boys' High in the Sulphur City derby and Bay Indians hosting Greerton at Boord Park.
Tomorrow's Bay of Plenty Cup games: Central v Rotorua Boys High, Tauranga Boys College v Te Puke (Nicholson Field), Bay of Plenty Indians v Greerton (Boord Park), Element IMF Cadets v Platinum Pacific Reclad Mt Maunganui (Tauranga Domain), East Bay United bye.