A cheese from Noord-Holland has won the title of best cheese in the world at the annual World Championship Cheese Contest in Wisconsin in the US.

Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, made by Cono Kaasmakers in Westbeemster, took the title with a score of 98.68, putting it top of the list of 3,375 different cheeses. Second was Swiss cheese Appenzeller Purple (98.45) and third was Alter Fritz, also from Switzerland.

The organisers – the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association – said the Beemster victory was all the more remarkable because there was just a fraction of a point between the winners.

Cono Kaasmakers’ “cheese master” Sjoerd Hiemstra said the title was recognition for all the hard work. “When you score so highly with an international jury, then you know everything is right,” he said. “From the milk to the making of the cheese to the ripening.”

In total, 25 countries and 34 US states took part in the championships. Cheeses were entered in 148 different categories ranging from Gouda to “fresh mozzarella” and “cream cheese spreads”. US cheese won “best in class” in 96 categories.

Other Dutch cheesemakers also picked up 12 “best in class” awards at the three-day contest, which has been organised since 1957.