Do you want to switch up and change your regular shuffleboard game?
Nothing easier with the Dutch Shuffleboard which will show you some new and exciting ways to play the most popular shuffleboard games. We’ve prepared a whole article on The Dutch Shuffleboard Table so just keep reading.
What Is The Dutch Shuffleboard?
One of the most popular kinds of shuffleboard tables in Europe is the Dutch shuffleboard. That kind of shuffleboard is also called Sjoelen or Jakkolo and has many similarities to the traditional shuffleboards, with a couple of variations in the design, but also in the rules on how to play the game. It is influenced by many popular games such as billiards, golf, shuffleboard, skeeball and a few others.
History Of The Sjoelen Board
Unlike the shuffleboard tables which have occurred in the 16th century in England, the Sjoelendutch shuffleboard game first occurred in the Netherlands at the end of the 19th century. Today they are very popular in the Netherlands but also in Belgium and Germany. They are made in a form of a board and not a table, so you can put this kind of shuffleboard on any straight surface and play it. They are also more affordable than the traditional shuffleboard tables; they take up a lot less space and are more convenient for that reason which is a reason a lot of people like them.
How To Play The Dutch Shuffleboard Game
This popular game is played with pucks made of wood and the goal is to slide them through the board’s four numbered slots. The slots are assigned with point values starting from one all the way to four. To protect the sides of the board you will get the wooden walls so your puck will not be able to slide off the playing surface. Sjoelen tables, or Sjoelbak, are usually only two meters long and about 40 cm wide so they are much smaller than your average shuffleboard table. The pucks for this game are just over 5 centimeters in diameter.
Will You Be Able To Play The Dutch Shuffleboard Game?
Here in this article, we decided to make a review on some of the best Dutch shuffleboards. If you are a fan of traditional shuffleboards and you want to try something new and slightly different, then this type of game would be a great option for you. Sjoelen is fun because it can be played by people of all ages. Many of the same skills of regular shuffleboard games will apply to these shuffleboards as well. Even if you have never tried a game similar to this, we are sure you’ll be able to catch up on the game quickly and have fun with your friends or family.
Different Dutch Shuffleboards For Sale
We included four of the Sjoelen boards which are available on Amazon, and they all come from different manufacturers. You can choose between Masters, Schlite and Heemskerk. That way you will have more options to choose from to find the one that is going to be ideal for you. If you are looking for something that can be folded over and stored in a small space, you should go for the Heemskerk Sports model.
Best Quality Dutch Shuffleboard Reviews
Masters Club Dutch Shuffleboard
The first shuffleboard we are going to review here is the one from the brand Masters Traditional Games. It is a high-quality Sjoelbak Dutch Shuffleboard which the entire family can enjoy. It comes at quite an affordable price point, which is why so many people love it. It was made in Europe by a workshop that has years of experience in making those type of products. Even though there is an affordable price tag, the quality of this product is very high and it will last you for decades.
This shuffleboard is made of Breech wood which has been varnished and the surface is super smooth so that the pucks can easily slide all over it. The board has the following dimensions- 78.7×16.1×2.6 inches. There are wooden walls on each side of the board that act as a protection against the pucks sliding outside of the board. The front of the board is the only place where there are no side barriers because you have to be able to slide the pucks from there.
Approximately 40 cm from the front of the board you will find a flat bar of wood across the top of the game which is known as a start bar. The pucks slide under this bar when you are playing the game. Approximately 39 cm from the back of the board, you will find a piece of wood which is set vertically and has 4 holes which throughout it. This part is known as the gate bar and the slots are marked from 1 to 4 and have 6 cm of distance between each of them.
When you look behind the arches you will see that the board is divided into four partitions which will separate the pucks that have passed through different arches. The wooden pucks are already included in the price of this board which is a great benefit. The board weighs approximately 18 pounds.
SchilteSjoelbak S-240
The brand Schilte is another one that is known for making great Dutch shuffleboards that have an affordable price point, but also are of best quality. Their S-240 model is the shuffleboard model we are going to review here. It is a great product that you will bring a lot of fun and excitement into your home and will last you for a very long time. Therefore it is definitely worth investing your money in it.
This particular model is made out of solid African wooden materials. All of the components of this product are made in the Netherlands, where the product is also assembled, but they do stock them in the USA. So if you are from the US and thinking about buying this shuffleboard, you don’t have to worry as you will not have to pay any additional customs.
The wooden construction itself is very light, but sturdy and durable at the same time. The weight of the product is around 18 pounds. One major benefit is that this product already comes pre-assembled and you will not have to spend a lot of time setting it up. All you have to do is place it on the table or any other kind of straight surface and you are ready to play.
You will also get 30 pucks made of wood and also rules on how to play the game and a couple of score sheets to keep the track of your scores easily. No other accessories or equipment is required to play this game. One thing to keep in mind is that there are many cheap imitations of this product on the market right now, so make sure you are buying your board from the authorized seller.
Heemskerk Sports Sjoelbak, Foldable HS-40
The foldable HS-40 shuffleboard model by the Heemskerk Sport is another one we are going to review in this article. It is another great quality model that is a little bit different from the rest of the models reviewed here as it is hinged at the center so it can be folded. Therefore it is super convenient for transport as well as for storage in smaller spaces that the regular Dutch shuffleboards.
All of the boards from this brand are handmade and this one is as well. It is made of the best quality African wood imported to Europe. The sides and the end are made of the wood called Abura, while the bottom part of this board is made out of a wood called Meranti.
One great thing about this shuffleboard is the fact that is already comes assembled and you will not have to do it yourself. You can place it on the floor, any kind of table or even outdoors on the grass. The only thing you have to look out for is that the ground you put it on is straight to make this a fair game when you play.
This is very lightweight shuffleboard, but it is also sturdy enough to last you for many years. The accessories are also included with this product. They include 30 wooden pucks, set of playing instructions and score sheets to keep track of your score. Those are all of the accessories you will need which means that you won’t have to purchase any other separately. The full dimensions of this board are 42 inches in length x 17 in width x 6 inches in height. It also weighs around 20 pounds. There is no assembly needed for this product, which is another great benefit.
Masters Tournament Dutch Shuffleboard
The last Dutch Shuffleboard for sale we are going to review here is another one of the Masters Traditional Games models. It is their Tournament shuffleboard which is made of wood and it is stained in a very rich tanned color. The quality, along with the longevity and durability of this shuffleboard is extraordinary. It is a great game to play at the family events, only recreationally or competitively as well.
This shuffleboard was made in a European workshop that has years of experience when it comes to making the shuffleboard or any similar board game. It is one of their premium models that come with the scoring studs made of metal and were not just painted on and the rear slot which is used for the storage cover. The approximate measurements of this board are 200 cm in length, 42 cm in width and 7.5 cm in height. The weight of this board is 9 kg.
The difference between this Tournament model and the previously reviewed models is the fact that the sides of this shuffleboard table are higher from all the sides so the entire board has a more robust look to it. When you compare it to the Club board it also has a richer and darker color to it. So if you are looking for the best quality, this model is the one we recommend, as it is also a more professional version.
The accessories you will be getting with are the 30 set dutch shuffleboard pucks made of wood. The manufacturer recommended this game for anyone older than the age of 5. You will need to have skills and a bit of strategy for this game, but with a little bit of practice, you can become a pro in a short period of time. The rules on how to play the game are included in the package this Dutch shuffleboard comes in.
Dutch Shuffleboard Plans
If you don’t want to spend crazy amounts of money on a shuffleboard table you can always try and do it yourself. You just need some patience and hard work and you’ll proudly have your own, homemade Dutch shuffleboard table where you can regularly play the Sjoelbakdutch game. I wanted to help you so you can find the plan here.
Dutch Shuffleboard Rules
Since the Dutch Shuffleboard game is a little bit different it can be hard to remember all the rules at once. But don’t worry, there are lots of online manuals that will help you out so you’ll be fine. The rules are quite straightforward and you can access them here.
Conclusion: Which Is The Best Dutch Shuffleboard For You?
The top five Dutch Shuffleboard are all great but choosing only one can be hard. In my opinion, you would get the best deal with the Masters Tournament Dutch Shuffleboard. The company has years of experience and they use the best materials for their shuffleboards. They are ideal for any occasion and your family and friends will love coming at your place. But if the dutch Shuffleboard Tables aren’t really your cup of tea you can always check out my post about the American Heritage Billiards Shuffleboard Tables or even about best home shuffleboard tables. If you are still unsure what shuffleboard table to choose, check out my post about the best shuffleboard table.