Belgian Cup (Belgium) 2023/24

The **Dr. Oetker Hockey Cup** is the primary national knockout competition for field hockey in Belgium. Organized by the Royal Belgian Hockey Association (KBHB/ARBH), the tournament has a complex history that includes a ten-year hiatus between the 2013–2014 and 2024–2025 seasons due to scheduling conflicts. Since its revival, it has operated as a standalone knockout event open to all men’s and women’s teams registered in the Belgian system, regardless of their division level.

The competition’s most distinct feature is its goal handicap system designed to facilitate upsets. Lower-division teams receive a two-goal advantage for each division level below their opponent. This structural element differentiates the cup from the league championship, which is restricted to the top tier and decided through a round-robin format followed by playoffs. The cup format includes a preliminary group stage, known as the *poules*, followed by knockout rounds including the Round of 32 and Quarter-finals. The season concludes with a Final 4 weekend where semi-finals and finals are played, with shootouts used to resolve drawn matches.

Historically, Royal Léopold Club holds the record for success, having won the title 11 times before the competition was discontinued. Following the restart, Orée claimed the men’s title and La Gantoise won the women’s edition in the 2024–2025 campaign. The tournament sits outside the standard league pyramid, offering a unique pathway for teams from various levels to compete for the national cup. The current edition features clubs such as Herentals, Leuven, Liège Bulldogs, and Mechelen among its participants.