Harrie Smolders, on board Monaco, laid down an error-free run as the Dutch team ended on zero penalties in a close final at Real Club de Polo in Barcelona.

Olympic bronze medallist Maikel van der Vleuten, on Beauville Z, and Willem Greve with 17-year-old Carambole had gone clear prior to Smolders' title-sealing ride.

"Nothing beats winning with your nation in a Nations Cup," Willem said.

Defending champions Ireland finished agonisingly short of a second straight Nations Cup on one penalty.

Denis Lynch, riding Cristello, and Darragh Kenny with VDL Cartello jumped clear for Ireland but Eoin McMahon recorded a time fault, which proved to be a devastating blow to their victory hopes.

Had McMahon, on board Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s Chacon 2, not been given a time fault, a jump-off would have been required to decide the season's overall champions.

Belgium edged out Sweden, the Olympic team jumping gold medallists at Tokyo 2020, for third after clocking faster accumulative time.

Both teams had finished the season-ending competition on four faults.