International Padel Returns to Westerbork Following a Successful Debut and Arjen Robben's Widely Publicized Professional Padel Debut

Following a highly successful first edition, the international padel tournament at RC Westerbork is set to return to the Dutch province of Drenthe. From Wednesday, August 26 through Sunday, August 30, 2026, Westerbork will once again host an official international FIP tournament. After last year's overwhelming success, the organizers are looking forward to an even stronger second edition.

A Successful Premiere Sets the Stage for More

The inaugural international tournament in 2025 was met with great enthusiasm from players, spectators, and international padel organizations alike. Over five days, top players from dozens of countries competed in Westerbork for prize money, FIP ranking points, and the tournament title.

In the men's competition, victory went to two promising talents from Paraguay, whose spectacular performances impressed the crowd. In the women's event, Dutch success came courtesy of current Dutch number one Marcella Koek, who claimed the title alongside her German partner Victoria Kurz.

"I play many international tournaments, but the atmosphere and organization in Westerbork were truly exceptional. You could really feel that the entire village embraced the event. We even stayed with one of the club members, which makes this tournament unique on the international calendar."

— Martin Abud, 2025 Tournament Champion

International Media Attention Thanks to Arjen Robben

One of the tournament's most talked-about moments was the professional padel debut of former football star Arjen Robben. At RC Westerbork, he took his first steps on the international professional padel stage. His participation attracted extensive national and international media coverage, putting Westerbork in the spotlight of the global sports community. As a result, the event welcomed a significant increase in visitors while generating tremendous online exposure for both the tournament and the region.

Stronger Player Field Expected, Women's Tournament Upgraded to FIP Silver

For the 2026 edition, the organizers once again expect players from across Europe, South America, and other parts of the world. Thanks to last year's successful event, Westerbork has firmly established itself on the international padel calendar.

This year, the women's tournament has been upgraded from FIP Bronze to FIP Silver, attracting a larger and even stronger international field.

Alongside world-class padel, visitor experience remains a key priority. Spectators can enjoy high-level matches, a vibrant event village, and a variety of side events throughout the tournament.

"Hosting an international padel tournament of this level in Westerbork remains something truly special. Last year proved that top-level sport fits perfectly within our region. In 2026, we want to once again deliver an event that players, visitors, volunteers, and sponsors can all be proud of."

— Mark Brouwer, Tournament Director, RC Westerbork

A Padel Celebration for the Northern Netherlands

RC Westerbork expects to welcome hundreds of visitors throughout tournament week. Thanks to the dedication of many volunteers, every effort is being made to turn the event into one of the sporting highlights of the year for the Northern Netherlands.

From Wednesday, August 26 through the finals on Sunday, August 30, visitors can enjoy international top-level padel at RC Westerbork.

Stay Updated

More information about the player field, tournament schedule, and side events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Stay up to date via www.fip-westerbork.nl and the official social media channels of RC Westerbork and FIP Westerbork.