The Netherlands women's national football team () represents the Netherlands in international women's football, and is directed by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), which is a member of UEFA and FIFA.
In 1971, the team played the first women's international football match recognised by FIFA against France. They played at the final tournament of the UEFA Women's Championship four times and were champions in 2017 as hosts. They qualified for the World Cup three times, reaching the final of the 2019 edition of the World Cup, losing 2–0 against the United States. The result of the 2019 World Cup meant that the Netherlands team qualified for 2020 Olympics where they lost in the quarter-finals.
The Netherlands was one of numerous countries where women's football was banned for a long time, and received scepticism afterwards. The team grew in popularity during and after their surprise victory on home soil at the 2017 Euros.
The nicknames for the team are the Oranje (Orange) and the Leeuwinnen (Lionesses). The Dutch women's team's logo features a lioness, making it different from the men's team's logo, which sports a male lion. The team plays in bright orange, the historic national colour of the Netherlands. Arjan Veurink became the head coach of the team since the conclusion of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025.
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 quarter-finals after extra time.
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
2026
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
PositionName Head coach Arjan Veurink Assistant coach Roos Kwakkenbos Martijn Reuser Goalkeeping coach Eline Sol
Head coaches Period Coach Notes Ref(s) 1972–1973 Siem Plooyer 1973–1974 Bert Wouterse 1974–1975 Ger Blok 1975–1977 Ron Groenewoud 1977–1978 Ruud de Groot 1979–1987 Bert van Lingen 1987 Nick Labohm 1 match (3–1 defeat to West Germany on 1 April 1987) 1987 Dick Advocaat 1 match (0–0 against Norway on 23 May 1987) 1987–1989 Piet Buter 1989–1992 Bert van Lingen second spell as coach (first spell from 1979 to 1987) 1992–1995 1995–2001 Ruud Dokter 2001 Andries Jonker interim coach 2001–2004 Frans de Kat 2004 Remy Reynierse interim coach 2004–2010 Vera Pauw 2010 Ed Engelkes interim coach 2010–2015 Roger Reijners 2015 Sarina Wiegman interim coach 2015–2016 Arjan van der Laan 2016–2017 Sarina Wiegman second spell as interim coach (first spell in 2015) 2017–2021 permanent coach 2021–2022 Mark Parsons2022–2025 Andries Jonker second spell as coach (first spell as interim in 2001)2025–present Arjan Veurink
Coaches' records #NamePeriodMatches1 Sarina Wiegman2015–2021862 Vera Pauw2004–2010733 Roger Reijners2010–2015714 Ruud Dokter1995–2000645 Bert van Lingen1979–1986, 1989–1991466 Andries Jonker2001, 2022–2025437 Frans de Kat2001–2004278 1991–1994199 Mark Parsons2021–20221810 Arjan van der Laan2015–20161611 Piet Buter1987–19891512 Ruud de Groot1977–19788
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.
Players
Current squad The following 23 players were called up for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification play-off matches against Hungary on 9 and 13 October 2026.
Caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2026, after the match against Poland.
Recent call-ups The following players have also been called up to the squad in the past 12 months.
INJ
RET
INJ
Notes INJ = Withdrew due to injury PRE = Preliminary squad / standby RET = Retired from the national team WD = Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.
Records
Internationals
Players in bold are still active with the national team.
Most capped players #PlayerCareerCapsGoals1Sherida Spitse2006–2025248462Daniëlle van de Donk2010–present174383Lieke Martens2011–2024160624Annemieke Kiesel-Griffioen1995–2011156195Dyanne Bito2000–201514666Marleen Wissink1989–200614107Daphne Koster1997–201313978Manon Melis2004–201613659Dominique Janssen2014–present136710Jackie Groenen2016–present13310
Top goalscorers #PlayerCareerGoalsCapsAvg.1Vivianne Miedema2013–present1041322Lieke Martens2011–2024621603Manon Melis2005–2016591364Sherida Spitse2006–2025462485Lineth Beerensteyn2016–present411256Daniëlle van de Donk2010–present381747Jill Roord2016–present311158Sylvia Smit2004–2013301069Marjoke de Bakker1979–1991296110Shanice van de Sanden2008–present2197
Competitive record
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.
FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification recordHost nationand yearResult** 1991Did not qualify Did not participate 1995 19996213510 20036114616 20078503157 20118521307 2015 Round of 16 13th 4 1 1 2 3 4141121509 2019Runners-up 2nd 7 6 0 1 11 512921304 2023 Quarter-finals 7th 5 3 1 1 12 3 8 6 2 0 30 3 2027To be determinedTo be determined 2031 2035 Total:3/10Runners-up2nd16102426126239101316656 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.
Summer Olympics recordHost nationand yearRound* 1996Did not qualify 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020Quarter-finals5th42202310 2024Did not qualify 2028To be determined 2032Total:1/8Quarter-finals5th42202310
UEFA European 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.UEFA Women's EURO 2009, UEFA. Retrieved 1 July 2014. In 2013, they qualified again, but did not advance beyond the group stage.Group B , UEFA. Retrieved 1 July 2014. 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.
UEFA European Women's Championship recordQualifying recordHost nation(s)and yearResult**1984** Did not qualify6222129 – 19876501146 1989631255 19916321171 1993622267 1995420273 1997832379 200182331010 20058215713 2009Semi-finals3rd521265105321612 – 2013Group stage12th 3012028611202 – 2017Champions1st6600133Qualified as Host 2022Quarter-finals5th421185101000483 – 2025Group stage 10th3102596231448th 2029TBDTBDTotal:1/81 title 21 11 3 7 32 24 92 47 20 25 173 84 8th * Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks. ** No host country.
UEFA Women's Nations League