Women's Basketball League (Netherlands)

Women's Basketball League
Organising body	Basketball Nederland
Founded	1949; 75 years ago
First season	1949–50
Country	Netherlands
Confederation	FIBA Europe (Europe)
Number of teams	9
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	Promotiedivisie
Domestic cup(s)	Carla de Liefde Trophy; WBL Final Four
Supercup	Supercup
International cup(s)	EuroCup Women
Current champions	Grasshoppers (4th title) ; (2023–24)
Most championships	Blue Stars (20 titles)
	2019–20 WBL season

The Women's Basketball League (WBL) is the highest level of women's basketball in the Netherlands. The first season was played in 1949. Blue Stars is the record titleholder of the league with twenty won championships. The league consists of 10 teams as of August 2024.^[1]

History

From its establishment, the league was known as "Eredivisie".

Former logo of the league, when it was the VBL

In 2019, the league name was changed from Vrouwen Basketball League (VBL) to Women's Basketball League (WBL).^[2] The 2019–20 season was cancelled prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first time the competition was not played out. No champion was named.

2021–22 clubs

Location of teams in the 2021–22 WBL season

The league currently consists of 9 teams. In the 2022–23 season, BAL will enter the league as its tenth team.^[3]

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

Club	Location	Venue	Capacity
Batouwe	Bemmel	De Kooi	650
Binnenland	Barendrecht	De Driesprong	300
Utrecht Cangeroes	Utrecht	Sporthal Lunetten
Den Helder Suns	Den Helder	Sporthal Sportlaan	1,000
Grasshoppers	Katwijk	Cleijn Duijn	450
Jolly Jumpers	Tubbergen	De Vlaskoel
Landslake Lions	Landsmeer	ICL Sportcenter	900
Martini Sparks	Haren	Scharlakenhof
Triple Threat	Haarlem	Van Hogendorphal

List of champions

1950 Westerkwartier Amsterdam
1951 Blue Stars
1952 Blue Stars
1953 Blue Stars
1954 Blue Stars
1955 Blue Stars
1956 Blue Stars
1957 Blue Stars
1958 Blue Stars
1959 Blue Stars
1960 Landlust
1961 AMVJ Amsterdam
1962 Blue Stars
1963 Blue Stars
1964 Blue Stars
1965 AMVJ Amsterdam
1966 Blue Stars
1967 AMVJ Amsterdam
1968 AMVJ Amsterdam
1969 Blue Stars
1970 AMVJ Amsterdam
1971 Blue Stars
1972 Blue Stars
1973 Blue Stars
1974 Blue Stars
1975 Blue Stars
1976 Blue Stars
1977 RZ
1978 RZ
1979 BOB Oud-Beijerland
1980 Landlust
1981 Landlust
1982 BV Amstelveen
1983 BV Amstelveen
1984 BV Amstelveen
1985 Den Helder
1986 Canadians
1987 Hoofddorp
1988 Den Helder
1989 Den Helder
1990 Den Helder
1991 Den Helder
1992 Voorburg
1993 Tonego
1994 Tonego
1995 Tonego
1996 Den Helder
1997 Lieshout
1998 Den Helder
1999 Den Helder
2000 Den Helder
2001 Landslake Lions
2002 Jolly Jumpers
2003 Lely
2004 Den Helder
2005 Den Helder
2006 Den Helder
2007 Landslake Lions
2008 Den Helder
2009 Den Helder
2010 Landslake Lions
2011 Leiderdorp
2012 Landslake Lions
2013 Landslake Lions
2014 Binnenland
2015 Batouwe
2016 Landslake Lions
2017 Batouwe
2018 Grasshoppers
2019 Grasshoppers
2020 None
2021 Den Helder
2022 Den Helder
2023 Grasshoppers
2024 Grasshoppers

Performance by team

Teams in bold are still active in the VBL.

Club	Winners	Years won
Blue Stars	20	1951–1959, 1962–1964, 1966, 1969, 1971–1976,
Den Helder	16	1985, 1988–1991, 1996, 1998–2000, 2004–2006, 2008, 2009, 2021, 2022
Landslake Lions	6	2001, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016
AMVJ	4	1961, 1965, 1967, 1968
Canadians	4	1960, 1980, 1981, 1986
Grasshoppers	4	2018, 2019, 2023, 2024
Tonego	3	1993–1995
Batouwe	2	2015, 2017
RZ	2	1977, 1978
Lieshout	1	1997
BOB Oud-Beijerland	1	1979
Hoofddorp	1	1987
Lely	1	2003
Voorburg	1	1992
Leiderdorp	1	2011
Jolly Jumpers	1	2002