Netherlands women's national football team

History

On 17 April 1971, the Dutch team played the first women's international football match recognized by FIFA against France. The match took place in Hazebrouck, France and resulted in a 4–0 defeat for the Netherlands, with Jocelyne Ratignier and Marie-Claire Caron-Harant scoring for France.

In 1980s and 1990s, the team failed to qualify for the final tournaments of UEFA Championship and later the FIFA World Cup. The Royal Dutch Football Association began major investments into women's football in the 2000s, culminating in the establishment of the women's Eredivisie in 2007 (which merged with the Belgian league for two seasons starting in 2012). This resulted in the team qualifying for a major tournament for the first time at the UEFA Women's Euro 2009. They finished in third place, together with Norway, behind second placed England and winners Germany (first place). The team again qualified for the UEFA Women's Euro 2013, but did not advance after the group stage.

The team qualified for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and reached thirteenth place, losing their first match in the knockout stage to Japan.

In 2017, the Netherlands won their first major women's trophy, ending Germany's seemingly unbeatable reign over the UEFA Women's Championship and winning the tournament on home soil, beating Denmark 4–2 in the final. The successful campaign in which the Oranje managed to win all of their matches highly contributed to the popularity of women's football in the Netherlands.

In 2018, the Netherlands finished second in their UEFA Qualifying group behind Norway. Therefore, they had to go through the UEFA play-off to qualify for the 2019 World Cup. Switzerland, Belgium, and Denmark were the other teams in the play-off. The Netherlands beat Denmark 4–1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals and repeated that result against Switzerland over two legs in the play-off final to qualify. In the 2019 World Cup, the Netherlands had another strong performance, reaching the final before losing 2–0 to the United States.

They qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics thanks to their position at the 2019 World Cup where they finished among the three best European teams. The Netherlands passed the 1st round at their first Olympic participation, finishing at the top of their group thanks to two large victories (10–3 against Zambia and 8–2 against China) and a draw (3–3 against Brazil), displaying an attractive offensive game but a certain defensive frailty, conceding 8 goals in the group stage. However, their journey ended in the quarter-finals against the United States, an opponent who had already played the role of tormentor of the Oranje in the final of the World Cup two years earlier, losing in penalty kicks (2–2, 2 pts to 4). Lieke Martens missed a decisive penalty in the 81st minute of the game when the score was tied 2–2.

Coach Sarina Wiegman left the team after the Olympics and was replaced by Englishman Mark Parsons. The Netherlands reached UEFA Women's Euro 2022 in England with a perfect record of ten victories in qualification. In England, the Netherlands passed the group stage thanks to victories over Switzerland and Portugal. A draw against Sweden however meant the team had to face France in the quarterfinals. Although they only lost in extra time, they were thoroughly outplayed, and it was decided to part ways with Parsons.

Andries Jonker took over coaching responsibilities and was immediately faced with a must-win game against Iceland to avoid the play-offs for the 2023 World Cup. In a tense game, Esmee Brugts scored the desperately needed goal only in stoppage time and the Netherlands qualified for their third World Cup.

At the 2023 World Cup, Netherlands were in Group E along with the U.S., Portugal, and Vietnam. It started with a 1–0 win over Portugal, followed this with a 1–1 draw with the U.S., and finished with a 7–0 victory over Vietnam to top the group. After defeating South Africa in the first knockout match, the team lost to eventual champion Spain in the Round of 16.

In April 2025, the KNVB announced that Arjan Veurink will succeed Jonker as coach after the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 tournament. Jonker's final team performed poorly, losing to England and France and failing to advance from its group.

Team image

Nicknames

The Netherlands women's national football team is known or nicknamed as both the "Leeuwinnen" (Lionesses) and "Oranje" (Orange).

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

;Legend

2025

• Schüller
• Nüsken Beerensteyn Grant
• Groenen
• Egurrola
• Spitse
• Plattner
• Hickelsberger
• Kaptein
• Van de Donk
• Miedema
• Roord
• McGovern
• Miedema
• Siren
• Pelova
• Brugts
• Stanway
• Toone
• Bacha
• Katoto
• Cascarino
• Karchaoui
• Miedema
• Peddemors

2026

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up for the friendlies against Portugal and South Korea on 28 November and 2 December 2025, respectively.

:Caps and goals correct as of 2 December 2025, after the match against South Korea.

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad in the past 12 months.

INJ INJ RET INJ RET INJ INJ RET INJ Withdrew due to injury

PRE Preliminary squad

RET Retired from the national team

WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

: 1. Includes 70 matches main coach (period 2017–2021), 1 match against Belarus – 8:0 as Interim coach (17.09.2015), 15 matches assistant coach (29.11.2015 – first match and 29.11.2016 – last match). Onsoranje.nl includes 8 matches from 15, coached Sarina by main coach instead assistant, Therefore, it turns out 79 (70+1+8). Main coach – 70 matches + 1 match in 2015.

Records

Main article: List of Netherlands women's international footballers

:, after the match against South Korea. :Players in bold are still active with the Netherlands.

Most caps

Most goals

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

Main article: Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup

On 27 November 2014, the Netherlands national football team qualified to the final tournament of the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time. In 2019, they reached the Final and lost to the United States team.

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Olympic Games

Since the inception of women's Olympic football, UEFA has designated the World Cup as its qualifying tournament for the succeeding Olympic tournament. Because the Netherlands failed to qualify to the World Cup until 2015, the Netherlands women automatically failed to qualify for the Olympics up to 2012. In 2015 Netherlands made it to their first World Cup. Their round of 16 exit was good enough for a post World Cup mini tournament to decide UEFA's last spot at the Olympics. Sweden won that tournament and the Netherlands were eliminated. In 2019 the Netherlands reached the World Cup final and qualified for the Olympics for the first time.

UEFA European Women's Championship

Main article: Netherlands at the UEFA Women's Championship

The Dutch failed to qualify for the final tournament of the UEFA Women's Championship from 1984 to 2005. In 2009, the Netherlands women's team qualified and reached third place. In 2013, they qualified again, but did not advance beyond the group stage. The Dutch women booked a major victory at the 2017 tournament: after a 4–2 victory over Denmark in the final they were the new European champion. Furthermore, Lieke Martens was named the best player of the tournament. In 2022 they were knocked out in the quarter final.

: * Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks. : ** No host country.

UEFA Women's Nations League

: * Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Competitive results

• All results list the Netherlands goal tally first.
• Goal scorers are sorted alphabetically.
• Colors gold, silver, and bronze indicate first-, second-, and third-place finishes.

note:a=Scotland withdrew during the 1989 qualification, their played results were voided.

Head-to-head record

updated till end WC '23

Honours

Major competitions

• FIFA Women's World Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2019
• UEFA Women's Championship
  • Champions (1): 2017

FIFA world rankings

Notes

References

References

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39. "Uitslagen".
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