From self-funded sacrifices to the World Cup: Netherlands women ready for big stage

From self-funded struggles to the World Cup: Babette de Leede leads Netherlands into history

The year 2014 occupies a special place in Dutch cricket history. Under Peter Borren, the Netherlands men’s team produced one of the greatest moments in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history, chasing down 190 against Ireland in just 13.5 overs in Sylhet to qualify for the Super 10 stage.

Even today, Stephan Myburgh’s explosive 23-ball 63 remains one of the most unforgettable knocks the tournament has witnessed. The Dutch also stunned England in the same campaign, bowling them out for just 88 in a famous upset that captured global attention.

But while the men’s team was making headlines, the reality for the Netherlands women’s side was far less glamorous. They did not have T20I status at the time, there was no full-time coaching structure, and several players regularly paid from their own pockets simply to continue playing cricket.

It was during those uncertain years that a 15-year-old Babette de Leede made her debut for the Netherlands in 2014. More than a decade later, she now finds herself preparing to captain the Dutch women at their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup under full-time coach Neil McRae.

“We’ve come such a long way,” Babette told India Today in an exclusive interview. “Back then, we had to pay for our own tours and trips, and our coach wasn’t full-time either. Slowly things started improving, especially around 2019 or 2020 when we got our first full-time head coach.”

The changes, though gradual, transformed the environment around women’s cricket in the Netherlands.

“We started getting support for travel and match fees, so it didn’t cost us money just to play or attend training anymore. Now some of the girls are even on part-time contracts, which shows how much progress has been made,” she added.

Carrying a proud cricket legacy

Cricket has always been a part of the De Leede family story. Babette’s uncle, Tim de Leede, remains one of Dutch cricket’s biggest icons after his memorable performance against India during the ICC Cricket World Cup, where he dismissed Sachin Tendulkar with his first international wicket. Her cousin, Bas de Leede, has also represented the Netherlands at both ODI and T20 World Cups.

Now Babette is ready to add another chapter to that family legacy. Earlier this year in Nepal, the Dutch women secured qualification for the Women’s T20 World Cup after winning five consecutive matches in the qualifiers alongside Bangladesh.

“The moment still gives me shivers,” Babette said. “We had worked towards this for years as a team, and finally achieving it felt incredible. There were tears, happiness and so much pride in that dressing room.”

For Dutch women’s cricket, the qualification marked a defining moment in a journey that gathered momentum after the Netherlands received T20I status in 2018.

“I really hope we’ve inspired young girls back home and shown them what’s possible,” Babette added.

More than just participation

The challenge at the World Cup, however, will be immense. The Netherlands are set to face heavyweight teams like India, Australia and South Africa, sides with far greater experience on the global stage.

Yet Babette insists the Dutch are not travelling simply to gain experience.

“We want to finish in the top eight so we can qualify automatically for the next World Cup,” she said. “That means we need to win games, and we genuinely believe we’re capable of doing that.”

For the Netherlands captain, the tournament also offers a rare opportunity to test her side against the best teams in the world.

“We’ve never consistently played against these teams before, so it’ll be exciting to see where we stand. We’re definitely not going there just for the occasion. We want to compete hard and hopefully create a few surprises,” she said.

Embracing captaincy

Babette took over as Netherlands captain in October 2024 after Heather Siegers stepped aside to focus on injury recovery. Though the role initially felt overwhelming, she has gradually grown into leadership.

“At the start, it was difficult balancing my own game with all the captaincy responsibilities like field placements and bowling changes,” Babette admitted. “But over time I’ve really started enjoying it. Captaincy adds another layer to cricket and makes the game even more engaging for me.”

Her influence has already been visible. Alongside leading the team to impressive results in T20Is, Babette has continued to contribute with the bat and behind the stumps, establishing herself as one of the most important players in the Dutch setup.

A defining moment awaits

For the Netherlands women’s team, the upcoming T20 World Cup represents far more than just another tournament. It is the reward for years of perseverance, sacrifice and steady progress.

Players like Helmien Rambaldo, Juliet Post and Heather Siegers laid the foundation for Dutch women’s cricket long before this generation arrived. Babette and her teammates now have the chance to take that journey onto the biggest stage in the sport.

The Dutch may not begin the tournament as favourites, but their rise already stands as one of the most inspiring stories in women’s cricket. From funding their own cricketing dreams to preparing for a World Cup debut, the Netherlands have shown that persistence and belief can change the course of a sport.