Eindhoven has been confirmed as the host city for the 2028 European Aquatics Women’s Water Polo Championships, with the tournament set to return to the Netherlands four years after the country successfully staged the 2024 edition.
Matches will once again be played at the renovated Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium, one of Europe’s premier aquatic venues and the site of the memorable 2024 championship, where the Netherlands captured the continental crown on home soil.
The decision reinforces the Netherlands’ growing reputation as a major destination for international water polo events and continues European Aquatics’ commitment to raising the profile of the women’s game.
Organisers have outlined ambitious objectives for the tournament, including promoting gender equality, inspiring youth participation through educational programmes and clinics, and creating a lasting legacy for water polo development across the region. Eindhoven’s excellent transport connections, modern infrastructure and extensive accommodation options were also key factors in securing the hosting rights.
The Netherlands enters the event as one of the dominant forces in world women’s water polo. The Dutch national team won gold at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, lifted the European title in Eindhoven in 2024, successfully defended their continental crown in 2026, and claimed Olympic bronze at Paris 2024.
The return of the championships to Eindhoven also builds on the success of the 2024 tournament, which attracted strong crowds and showcased the continued growth of women’s water polo across Europe. That event marked the first standalone European Women’s Water Polo Championship following the separation of the men’s and women’s tournaments, a move designed to give greater visibility and commercial value to the women’s game.
By 2028, the competition is expected to feature many of the sport’s leading nations, including reigning powers such as the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Italy and France, while serving as a key milestone on the road to the Los Angeles Olympic Games later that summer.
With a proven venue, passionate local support and one of the strongest national teams in the world, Eindhoven is set to provide an ideal stage for Europe’s elite women’s water polo players as they compete for continental glory in 2028.
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