The home team`s victory over rivals Belgium in Apeldoorn lifted them to ninth place in the standings, boosting their chances for the Finals.
Captain Nika Daalderop scored 18 points for the Netherlands.
In the latest edition of the Low Countries derby, held Thursday in Apeldoorn during the third week of the Volleyball Nations League 2025, the Netherlands secured a vital victory that keeps their bid for a spot in the tournament`s Finals alive.
Supported by their home crowd at the Omnisport Stadium, the Dutch team defeated their regional rivals Belgium with a score of 3-1 (26-24, 25-22, 22-25, 25-22). This result improved their position in the VNL standings, maintaining their prospects of finishing the Preliminary Phase in the top eight and qualifying for the Finals in Łódź, scheduled for July 23-27.
Standings Impact
The win and the three points gained against Belgium saw the Netherlands climb three places in the standings, moving from 12th to ninth. They now have five victories and 13 points. This result narrowed the gap behind seventh-placed Germany (five wins, 16 points) and eighth-placed United States (five wins, 14 points), both of whom had matches remaining on Thursday. Belgium currently sits 14th with three wins and eight points.
Player Performances
Setter Sarah van Aalen`s excellent performance was key to the Dutch win. She enabled all five of the team`s starting attackers to score in double figures. Captain Nika Daalderop topped the scoring with 18 points, followed by outside hitter Helena Kok (14), opposite Elles Dambrink (12), and middle blockers Britte Stuut (12) and Suus Gerritsen (11).
“I`m very happy that we could play for this crowd in this city that feels like home,” commented Gerritsen, who previously played for Draisma Dynamo in Apeldoorn from 2020 to 2025. “We faced some challenges in the third set, but I`m pleased that we recovered in the fourth set. It was a great team effort, and Belgium also fought hard and played wonderfully.”
For Belgium, 17-year-old outside hitter Liese Verhelst was the main offensive threat in her first VNL start, scoring a team-high 17 points (16 kills, one block). Opposite Pauline Martin contributed 12 points (ten kills, two aces), and middle blockers Nathalie Lemmens and Anna Koulberg each scored ten.
Other Results and Upcoming Matches
In an earlier match on Thursday in Apeldoorn, the current VNL and Olympic champions Italy defeated the reigning world champions Serbia 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-20).
Two more matches are scheduled for Friday in Apeldoorn: Belgium will play Serbia at 17:00 local time (15:00 GMT), followed by Czechia against Türkiye at 20:30 (18:30 GMT).
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick