The Netherlands women's national football team, known in Dutch as Nederlands vrouwenvoetbalelftal, is the senior side that represents the Netherlands in international association football. Governed by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), the team wears orange and has risen to prominence in Europe since the 2010s, reaching major tournament finals and increasing domestic interest in the women's game.

History and major tournaments

The Netherlands qualified for their first senior FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015, an important milestone for the programme. Building on improved youth development and professionalisation, they hosted and won the UEFA Women's Championship in 2017, a breakthrough that raised the profile of women's football nationwide. Two years later the team reached the final of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, establishing the Netherlands as a global contender.

Style of play and strengths

The side is often praised for technical midfield play, disciplined defending and quick transitions that exploit wide players and creative forwards. Coaching emphasis has included tactical organisation, ball control and a structured press; these elements helped the team perform consistently in major tournaments under experienced leadership.

Key players and leadership

  • Lieke Martens – a creative winger who played a pivotal role in the 2017 European title run.
  • Vivianne Miedema – a prolific forward and one of the team's most reliable goalscorers in recent years.
  • Jackie Groenen – a midfielder noted for her work-rate and composure in big matches.
  • Sarina Wiegman – the coach who led the side through its major successes and whose tenure drew international attention to the team.

Domestic impact and development

Success at international level accelerated investment in the domestic women's league and youth academies, encouraged more girls to take up football and increased media coverage. Clubs in the Netherlands and abroad have signed Dutch internationals, reflecting the strength of national player production and the growing reputation of the programme.

Competition and records

  • UEFA Women's Championship: Winners (2017)
  • FIFA Women's World Cup: Runners-up (2019); first appearance in 2015
  • Regular participants in European Championship qualifiers and World Cup qualifying campaigns since the mid-2010s

The national team plays its home fixtures across a variety of stadiums in the country rather than at a single national ground, engaging regional fan bases and creating diverse match atmospheres. Detailed season-by-season records, player caps and scoring lists are maintained by the national association and tournament organisers.

For further background on governance, tournament formats and historical match reports consult official sources associated with European football and world governing bodies: see UEFA resources as well as national association pages and tournament archives provided by organisers and federations.

Coverage of fixtures, squad updates and development programmes is available from the Royal Dutch Football Association and official competition sites; these remain the primary references for current rosters, coaching appointments and upcoming matches.