If you live in the Netherlands, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Let’s play padel this weekend!” — and there’s a reason why. Nlpadel didn’t grow slowly… it exploded. In just a few years, the sport went from almost unknown to more than 570,000 Dutch players, packed courts, and new clubs opening every month.
And the best part? You don’t need tennis skills, insane fitness, or an expensive membership to start. Padel is fun, social, beginner-friendly, and honestly, one of the easiest ways to make new friends in Dutch cities right now.
Whether you want a quick workout, a low-pressure sport, or just something to do with friends after work, NLpadel is the sport everyone ends up loving. This guide shows you exactly how to start, where to play, what it costs, and why the entire country is obsessed with it.
Key Takeaways
- Padel grew from almost zero to over 570,000 players in the Netherlands in just a few years.
- It’s easier and more social than tennis, perfect if you want fun without running marathons.
- You can start playing this weekend for less money than you think – I’ll show you how.
What Exactly Is Nlpadel?
Imagine tennis and squash had a baby, who grew up in Spain and then moved to the Netherlands. That’s padel. You play doubles on a court about a third the size of a tennis court. The cool part? The walls are part of the game – the ball can bounce off them and still be in play. That makes rallies longer, points more fun, and honestly, it feels less like hard work and more like a chat with friends while hitting a ball. In the Netherlands, we just call the whole scene nlpadel – all the clubs, tournaments, apps, and people playing under the KNLTB (the same organisation that runs tennis here).
Nlpadel Vs. Tennis: Which One Should You Pick?
A lot of my friends who play tennis tried padel once and got hooked. Here’s a simple comparison:
- Learning curve: Padel = days or weeks, Tennis = months or years
- Physical effort: Padel has shorter rallies, less running
- Social factor: 90 % of padel is played as doubles → you talk and laugh the whole time
- Injuries: Padel is gentler on knees and shoulders (walls do half the work for you)
One tennis friend told me, “After 20 years of tennis, I finally play a sport where I’m not dead after one hour.”
A Short History
2006 – First court opens in Eindhoven 2011 – A few enthusiasts start the Dutch Padel Association (NPB) 2020 – The big tennis federation (KNLTB) takes over → things explode 2024 – 570,000 Dutch people play at least once a month 2025 – We now have more than 1,500 courts and 450 clubs
Basically, padel is the fastest-growing sport the Netherlands has ever seen.
How to Start Playing Nlpadel This Week
You don’t need to be sporty. You just need these four things:
- A racket (borrow one the first time or buy a beginner racket for €50–80)
- Normal sports shoes (no black soles on indoor courts)
- Three friends (or use an app – more on that in a minute)
- A court booking (costs €20–30 per hour for four people → €5–8 per person)
Pro tip: Book off-peak hours (weekday mornings or late evenings) and you’ll pay half.
Best Ways to Find Courts and Playing Partners
- Playtomic app – the “Uber” for padel courts. Shows every court, free spots, and people looking for players.
- The Padellers – the biggest chain, with locations in almost every big city.
- KNLTB.club – official site, great for finding clubs with lessons.
- Local Facebook or WhatsApp groups – search “padel [your city]” and you’ll find one in five minutes.
I once moved to Utrecht and found a game the same evening just by posting “New in town, level 3-4, anyone free?” on the local group. Three beers and two hours of padel later, I had new friends.
The Cool Tech Side of Nlpadel
Yes, padel in the Netherlands got geeky too.
- Smart rackets with sensors that track your swing and give tips on your phone
- Playtomic and similar apps now use AI to match you with players of the same level
- Some clubs have cameras that record your matches and show slow-motion replays
- “NLPadel” training – using mental techniques from neuro-linguistic programming to stay calm under pressure
You definitely don’t need any of this to have fun, but it’s nice that it exists when you want to get better.
The Real Challenges (and How to Fix Them)
Let’s be honest – nothing is perfect.
Court prices in the evening → Fix: Play mornings, lunch hours, or share a fixed court with friends (many clubs offer 40-week packages that bring the price down to €12–15/hour).
Hard to find people at your level → Fix: Use the level filter in Playtomic or join a club’s ladder competition.
Outdoor courts + Dutch weather → Fix: Most new courts are indoor now. Or just accept you’ll get wet twice a year and laugh about it.
Fear of looking stupid as a beginner → Fix: Almost every club offers “start-to-padel” courses for €49–79 (4 weeks). Everyone there is new – zero judgment.
Top Places to Play Right Now
- Amsterdam – Peakz Padel, The Padellers Zuidas, Plaswijck
- Rotterdam – Plasma Padel, Victoria Padel
- Utrecht – Padel Utrecht, The Padellers Leidsche Rijn
- The Hague – Plaza Padel, Fokker Terminal
- Smaller cities – Almost every town above 40,000 people has at least one location now.
Big Events You Can Watch (or Join
- Ajax Padel Open (Amsterdam) – the biggest pro tournament in the country
- NK Padel (National Championships) – fun to watch, free entry sometimes
- Local club tournaments almost every weekend – many have beginner categories
What the Future Looks Like
Experts say the number of players will double again by 2027. New clubs open every month, prices slowly come down, and schools are even adding padel to gym class.
We’re also seeing more women and kids playing – right now it’s about 35 % women, but that number is climbing fast.
Conclusion: Why You’ll Love Nlpadel
Nlpadel didn’t just become popular—it became part of everyday Dutch life. With easy rules, low costs, fun social play, and new courts opening every month, it’s the kind of sport you can start in one weekend and enjoy for years.
If you want a hobby that helps you move more, meet new people, and have fun without feeling exhausted, nlpadel is your perfect match. Download Playtomic, book a court, borrow a racket, and play your first game.
One session is all it takes to understand why the whole Netherlands is hooked.
