Netherlands heads to the European Pickleball Championship
From September 19 to 21, 2025, the time has come: the European Pickleball Championship will take place in Rome, Italy. For three days, the iconic Foro Italico—known from the 1960 Olympic Games—will be entirely dedicated to pickleball. For the first time, the Netherlands will participate with an official team.
Head coach Geert Jan van Dijken will travel to Rome with twelve selected players. The team is a mix of experienced athletes and young talent, divided into four categories: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s 50+, and Women’s 50+. With this debut, the Netherlands is taking an important step in the development of this racket sport and encouraging the further growth of pickleball.
How did pickleball’s popularity begin?
To understand how remarkable this participation is, it helps to look at how pickleball became so popular. The sport was invented in the United States in 1965 by three fathers as a simple backyard game to keep their children entertained during summer vacation. What began as a family pastime quickly grew into a serious sport with a worldwide following.
Pickleball reached the Netherlands in 2013. Thanks to enthusiastic demonstrations and trial lessons, more and more players and clubs got involved. Today, numerous tennis and padel clubs are building pickleball courts, and regional tournaments are organized across the country. The competition is becoming stronger and more professional every year.
Since January 2025, the Netherlands has even had an official National Pickleball Championship. This rapid development shows that the sport is far more than a passing trend. Pickleball gets people moving, connects generations, and has every chance to become a permanent fixture in Dutch racket sports.
Want to play pickleball in the Netherlands?
One of pickleball’s biggest advantages is its low entry threshold. The rules are easy to learn, and the game requires less physical exertion than tennis or padel. The court is smaller, and both paddle and ball are lighter. This makes it attractive for all ages and skill levels—from elementary school children to seniors who want to stay fit and active.
Organizations also see its potential:
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Clubs and associations use pickleball to attract new members and diversify their sports offerings.
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Schools introduce the sport to give children an accessible introduction to racket sports.
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Municipalities invest in pickleball to give residents more opportunities to stay active.
All of these parties need quality facilities. W&H Sports supplies complete solutions so that pickleball can be offered professionally and sustainably.
Pickleball equipment from W&H Sports
W&H Sports provides everything required for professional, long-lasting pickleball setups—not only modular sports floors, but also net posts in both mobile and fixed versions with ground sleeves.
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Long-lasting modular sports floor Ultimate Flow
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Pickleball net post (oval profile)
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Mobile pickleball posts
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Mobile pickleball installation
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Urban multifunctional net posts
With these facilities, W&H Sports helps clubs, schools, and municipalities offer pickleball for both recreation and competitive training—just like Team Netherlands will experience at the European Championship in Rome.
W&H Sports has already successfully completed several projects, including the first indoor pickleball court in the Netherlands and the first multifunctional pickleball court in Rotterdam.
Is this pickleball’s big moment?
With the right facilities and a growing community, pickleball in the Netherlands is ready for the next step. Team Netherlands’ participation in the 2025 European Championship highlights this momentum and could give the sport a powerful boost—one worth seizing.
Contact W&H Sports today to discover how we can help achieve your sporting ambitions.
