Too many kids, too few fields: Dutch youth football clubs overwhelmed by high demand

Youth football clubs across the Netherlands are facing increasing pressure due to overcrowding, with thousands of children placed on waiting lists. The problem is particularly severe in growing cities, where local clubs lack the space and resources to accommodate new players, according to AD. The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is urging municipalities to consider sports facilities in urban planning to prevent further bottlenecks.

In Waddinxveen, a town that experienced rapid population growth from 26,000 to 35,000 residents in just eight years, local clubs are struggling. CVV Be Fair, one of two football clubs in the town, is running out of capacity. “We are already stretched beyond our limits,” said Cees van Hoven, board member at Be Fair. “Together with VV ASW, we have eight fields, but according to regulations, we should have ten. Even then, that won't be enough in a few years. We are running into serious space constraints.”

The problem extends nationwide. New figures from the KNVB, reveal that over a quarter of all amateur football clubs in the country have waiting lists. Another 17 percent anticipate reaching capacity within the next five years. The main causes include a shortage of playing fields, inadequate locker room facilities, and a lack of volunteers.

Children are the most affected, with 87 percent of all waitlisted players being youth members. Wait times range from six months to 2.5 years, and in some cases, spots never become available.

In Eindhoven, where 1,500 children are currently on football club waiting lists, the issue has become particularly severe. At VV Acht, a club in a village near Eindhoven, the waitlist system has been in place for years. “Each year, we invite a group of 5-year-olds to join,” said chairman John van Kemenade. “This year, we are taking numbers one through fifteen from our 2020 list. If you're number 17, 18, or 19, your chances are slim.”

Since few children drop out, many parents try to secure their child’s spot early. “Some parents sign their babies up just one day after birth,” Van Kemenade said. “It sounds extreme, but it works.”

Eindhoven's city council is taking steps to address the issue. Maes van Lanschot, the city’s sports alderman, has been in talks with representatives from the city's 14 football clubs. “When we asked clubs what they needed most, their answer was unanimous: more artificial turf fields,” Van Lanschot said.

Artificial turf fields allow three times more playtime compared to natural grass. However, space limitations make it difficult to add new fields in urban areas, and artificial turf is expensive. “A single artificial turf field costs around 1 million euros,” Van Lanschot noted. “Municipalities have to finance this, which is challenging given current budget constraints.”

Despite financial difficulties, Eindhoven is pushing forward with artificial turf expansion. Over the next two years, eight grass fields will be converted, bringing the city's total number of artificial turf fields to nearly half of its 48 fields. Each new artificial field can accommodate around 200 additional children, helping to reduce waitlists.

While infrastructure expansion is crucial, Van Lanschot believes clubs need to rethink how they use their existing resources. “Does every match really need to be played on Saturday?” he asked. “Other sports start early in the morning and continue into the evening—why not football? Clubs also ask for more locker rooms, yet they keep spaces like massage rooms, boardrooms, and referee lounges. Couldn’t these areas be used more efficiently?”

The KNVB acknowledges that clubs and the association itself must contribute to solving the crisis. Structural scheduling changes could reportedly help manage player capacity, but the organization insists that long-term solutions are needed.

The KNVB, in collaboration with sports federation NOC*NSF and other stakeholders, is advocating for structural changes in urban planning. One of their main proposals is to integrate sports facilities into the design of new residential areas. “A neighborhood is more than just stacking bricks,” said Jan Dirk van der Zee, director of amateur football at KNVB. “A football club brings a community to life.”

In Waddinxveen, Van Hoven of Be Fair believes authorities underestimated the town’s growing demand for sports facilities. “The municipality planned for population growth, but the available space for sports did not expand at the same rate,” he said. “We’ve already taken in young children who will soon need full-size fields, but we don’t have room for them. If action isn’t taken soon, this problem will only get worse.”