The National League 2026/27 Season Gets Underway
The excitement of a new season returned to the courts as clubs across the Netherlands and Belgium began their 2026/27 National League campaign is officially underway.
This season brings an exciting new chapter for the league with the introduction of two divisions: the Premier League and the Challengers League. The new structure creates opportunities for teams to compete at different levels, strengthen their combinations and continue developing within the sport.
And what better way to begin than with six opening matches, plenty of determination and some impressive performances? Let's look back at the action!
PREMIER LEAGUE
The Premier League got off to an exciting start. Amsterdam's two teams and Rotterdam 1 all opened their campaigns with victories. With the first round complete, the challenge now is to build on those performances as the competition progresses.
Amsterdam 1 vs Utrecht 1
📍 Amsterdam
ANC1 50 – 29 UNC1
ANC1 began their new-season campaign with a convincing victory over UNC1, although the opening quarter suggested there would be plenty to play for. Both sides started with determination, with ANC1 edging ahead 10–7 after the first 15 minutes. The home side then found another gear in the second quarter, combining effective attacking play with consistent defensive pressure to extend their lead to 26–11 at half-time.
UNC1 continued to compete and looked for opportunities to close the gap, but ANC1 maintained their composure after the break. Confident ball movement and accuracy in the shooting circle helped the home side remain in control through the second half. ANC1 ultimately secured a 50–29 victory, giving their Premier League campaign a positive start.
Match honours
MVP: Hannah Pahor (ANC) Lara Jordaan (UNC)
Fair Play: Fiona Jarden (ANC) Niel Els (UNC)
Umpires: Neville Donaldson and Dakota Coetzee
Amsterdam 2 vs Dragons
📍 Amsterdam
ANC2 59 – 25 Dragons
ANC2 made their intentions clear, establishing a 13–7 lead against Dragons in the opening quarter. Their momentum continued into the second period, as pressure across the court and effective use of attacking opportunities helped them extend their advantage to 29–13 by half-time.
Dragons continued to battle and demonstrated determination despite the growing score difference. ANC2, however, remained consistent, producing another strong scoring period in the third quarter to move ahead 45–18. With their attacking combinations working effectively and their defensive pressure remaining strong, ANC2 continued to build on their advantage and closed out the match with an impressive 59–25 victory. It was an encouraging start for ANC2, who will look to carry that confidence into the next round.
Match honours
MVP: Gideon Goldberg (ANC) Hanliette Oosthuizen (Dragons)
Fair Play: Grace Appelford (ANC) Cheneé Rosslee (Dragons)
Umpires: Neville Donaldson and Dakota Coetzee
Rotterdam 1 vs Den Haag 1
📍 The Hague
DHNC1 22 – 56 RNC1
RNC1 travelled to The Hague for their opening Premier League fixture and made an immediate impression, taking control of the contest from the opening whistle. A strong first quarter saw Rotterdam establish a 14–3 lead, giving the visitors a solid foundation to build on. RNC1 continued to demonstrate effective teamwork, confident attacking play and disciplined defence as the first half progressed.
DHNC1 worked hard to find their rhythm and create opportunities, but Rotterdam's consistency made it difficult for the home side to close the gap. By the end of the third quarter, RNC1 had extended their lead to 41–18.
The visitors maintained their momentum in the final period, completing a convincing 56–22 victory and opening their campaign in impressive fashion. For DHNC1, the focus will now turn to building on the experience of their first match and preparing for the next challenge.
Match honours
MVP: Jordan Kirby (DHNC1) Corné Bouwmeester (RNC1)
Fair Play: Phillip de Bruyn DHNC1) Savannah Lotzé (RNC1)
Umpires: Grace Appelford and Patrick Neasey
CHALLENGER LEAGUE
The introduction of the Challengers League is an exciting step forward for the National League, providing another platform for teams to compete, gain valuable match experience and continue developing their game.
Brabant vs Amsterdam 3
📍 Brabant
BRNC 41 - 22 ANC3
BRNC made an immediate impact in their opening Challengers League fixture, establishing a 14–5 lead against ANC3 in the first quarter. Their confident attacking play and effective teamwork continued to create opportunities as the match progressed. ANC3 worked hard to respond and find their rhythm, but Brabant maintained control throughout the opening half, taking a 22–9 lead into the break.
BRNC strengthened their position further in the third quarter, combining consistent scoring with defensive pressure to extend their advantage. ANC3 showed resilience in the final period, producing their strongest scoring quarter of the match. Despite that determined response, Brabant's early lead proved decisive as BRNC secured a 41–22 victory.
Match honours
MVP: Nadine vd Whelen (ANC3) Elrica Vorndran (BRNC)
Fair Play: Eva Crowther (ANC3) Nelisha Alblas (BRNC)
Umpires: Leigh-Ann Hollings and Johan Mostert
Den Haag 2 vs Rotterdam Otters
📍 The Hague
DHNC2 44 – 15 RNC Otters
DHNC2 made a confident start to their Challengers League campaign, producing a strong defensive effort to keep RNC Otters scoreless in the opening quarter and establish an early 8–0 lead.
RNC Otters responded in the second period, finding opportunities to get on the scoreboard and working hard to develop their attacking combinations. DHNC2, however, maintained their advantage and headed into half-time with a 17–5 lead.
The home side delivered another impressive performance in the third quarter, extending their lead to 32–9 through consistent scoring and effective teamwork. Despite the challenging scoreline, RNC Otters continued to show commitment and determination right through to the final whistle. DHNC2 remained composed, completing a convincing 44–15 victory to begin their season on a positive note.
Match honours
MVP: Bianca Botha (DHNC2) Winnie Oussoren (RNC Otters)
Fair Play: Winnie Oussoren (DHNC) Mila Jevremov (RNC Otters)
Umpires: Maureen Nankya and Anna Bennington
Brussels Make Home Advantage Count Against UNC2
📍 Brussels
UNC2 27–59 BNC
Brussels Netball Club opened their Challengers League campaign with an impressive home performance against UNC2, setting the tone early with confident attacking play. BNC established a 17–8 lead in the opening quarter and continued to build on that advantage in the second, demonstrating effective teamwork and consistent scoring to take a 31–12 lead into half-time.
UNC2 worked hard to remain competitive after the break, continuing to create opportunities and challenge the home side. However, BNC maintained their momentum, extending their advantage to 45–21 by the end of the third quarter. Brussels carried that form into the final period to complete a commanding 59–27 victory.
Match honours
MVP: Stella Lawrence (UNC2) Eve Riley (BNC)
Fair Play: Janise Cilliers (UNC2) Rachel Sheard (BNC)
Umpires: Gary Brown and Emma Acornley
Looking ahead
It’s still early days, but Round 1 has provided an exciting start to the season, with competitive matchups and plenty of opportunities for teams to grow. Visit our National League page to follow the latest ladder, which will be updated after each weekend of matches.
A big thank you to all participating clubs, players, coaches, umpires and volunteers who helped make Round 1 possible. Your commitment and enthusiasm are vital to the continued growth of netball across the Netherlands and Belgium.
We also still have a Match Day League Representative role available for anyone interested in getting involved and supporting the league. Find out more on our vacancies page.
We look forward to the next round and the months ahead, with more great matches, memorable moments and opportunities for our netball community to grow together
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