The Dutch Women’s team landed in Switzerland yesterday ahead of the start of the UEFA European Championship. However, heavy rain and thunderstorms disrupted their first training session ahead of their tournament opener against Wales on Saturday.
Both the Oranje selection and staff will stay in the luxurious four-star hotel Belvédère in Spiez, located on Lake Thunersee, for the next two weeks. Although this hotel seems to be equipped with all the comforts, national coach Andries Jonker revealed earlier that the accommodation was actually the team’s fifth choice.
Home away from home 🏠🧡#WEURO2025#YoureInvitedpic.twitter.com/B9kVpqVTUO
— OranjeLeeuwinnen (@oranjevrouwen) July 1, 2025
The hotel hasn’t been the only point of conversation in Switzerland, as the weather has steadily shifted centre stage. Midfielder Daniëlle van de Donk spoke of a ‘bumpy ride’ when she got off the plane.
After checking in at the players’ hotel, Oranje drove on to Thun, where a ‘short-sock training’ (light training, at low intensity) would be completed.
However, there has been little training yet, because a thunderstorm soon broke out above the training field. A large part of the group of players immediately sprinted into the dugouts, after which the team decided to do the first part of the training in the gym and go back onto the field later.
GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield