Pickleball is still an emerging sport in the Netherlands. Estimates put the number of clubs or playing venues at roughly 50 to 80 in early 2026, with a few thousand active players. That number is climbing fast: the sport is cheaper to run than padel, the learning curve is shorter, and it appeals to a broader age range.
What is missing right now is structure. Most pickleball venues run on one-off open play sessions with no ranking, no ongoing competition, and no clear seasonal calendar. Whoever sets up a solid internal competition first will keep players engaged for years.
Three formats that work for new pickleball clubs
Pickleball suits different formats than tennis or padel, because matches are shorter (a game to 11 points takes about 15 minutes) and the spread in skill level among beginners is wide.
Americano for pickleball (8 to 16 players)
Same principle as in padel: players switch partner and opponent every round, and everyone plays with everyone. Points are tracked individually. It works brilliantly for a social evening.
For pickleball: use shorter games (to 11 or 15 points, instead of the padel 24). With 12 players on 3 courts everyone plays every round; after 11 rounds you have partnered everyone exactly once. Read more about Americano.
Box system (8 to 32 players)
Players are split into boxes of 4 at a similar level. Each week everyone in the box plays everyone else. After three to four weeks: number 1 goes up, number 4 goes down. Ideal for an ongoing competition with clear progression.
It works well for pickleball because the difference in level within a box stays small. The spread in skill level is traditionally wider in pickleball than in tennis (beginners stay beginners for only a short while), so box rotation keeps the matches interesting.
Ladder (12 to 80 players)
Players challenge each other and move up or down the ranking based on results. No fixed playing time. It works for clubs where members show up at different times. Read more about pickleball ladders.
