First International Friendly for Netbal Nederland

Three months of preparation. A weekend in Biarritz. Four international matches. One proud moment for Netbal Nederland.

After three months of preparation, the Netbal Nederland National Squad travelled to Biarritz, France, for its first international fixtures. The weekend marked the culmination of our national pilot programme, bringing together players from across the Netherlands (and Dutch nationals from the UK) to represent the country against the French Women’s and Mixed National Team.

Across two days of competition, both the women's and mixed squads took to the court twice, giving players the opportunity to experience international netball in a competitive international environment

"Travelling to France was never just about the results. With only three training camps together, against a French programme that has been developing for four years, our focus was on our own performance and continuing to build as a team.

The progress across the weekend was clear. Defensively, we were outstanding, recording 44 gains in the women's matches and 66 in the mixed competition against a far more experienced side. We also saw real improvement from Saturday to Sunday, winning two quarters and drawing another two. Those are foundations we can be incredibly proud of, and a great platform as we continue to build the Netball Nederland national programme." said Lyn Hook, Head Coach of Netbal Nederland

While the matches were an important milestone, the weekend was about more than the results. It was the first opportunity for this group to represent the Netherlands together, and the team culture that had developed over the previous three months was evident both on and off the court. Performance Director, Natalie Pepperal said: 

The culture this group created over the weekend was something very special. From the very beginning every player supported, encouraged and lifted one another, creating an environment where everyone felt they belonged. At the same time, there was an unwavering commitment to excellence, with every athlete taking personal responsibility to work hard, embrace feedback and strive to be better in every training session and every game.

The pride, humility and togetherness represented everything we want the Netherlands programme to stand for. Just as importantly, the outstanding coaching and support team created an environment where players felt challenged, valued and empowered to perform at their best. The commitment, expertise and care shown by every member of management played a huge role in making the weekend such a positive experience.

A huge thank you goes to Netball France, we were made to feel incredibly welcome, and the experience was a fantastic example of the friendships that international netball can create.

Although the pilot programme has now come to an end, this is only the beginning for the Netbal Nederland National Pathway. Trials for the next national squad will take place this October, and we're looking forward to welcoming the next group of players who want to challenge themselves, represent the Netherlands and help continue building the future of our sport.

If watching this team take to the international stage inspires you, we hope to see you at trials in October 2026!