Dutch women celebrate European hockey title, with 3-0 win over Belgium

DutchNews, August 27, 2017

Golden girls: the Dutch women celebrate their title. Photo: Willem Vernes
Fotografie /KNVB 

The Dutch women’s hockey team took the European title in a 3-0 win over Belgium in Amsterdam on Saturday night. 

It is the first major title for the team since three long-standing players quit the squad but their ninth European title overall. 

In addition, the Netherlands has two players in the best of tournament list: Pien Sanders was singled out as under-21 talent, while Laurien Leurink’s first goal against the Czech Republic was goal of the tournament.

‘Collectively, they are a team who performed exceptionally well,’ said the team’s Australian coach Alyson Annan. ‘For the first time since I have been with this team, they have played a steady tournament. We haven’t had a game where we played poorly and the final we just played a little bit better than the previous matches.” 

England’s Holly Webb was named best player in the tournament. England took the bronze medal after beating Germany 2-0. 

Watch the match highlights 

The Dutch also take on the Belgians in the men’s event on Sunday evening. Again, Germany and England will battle it out for bronze.