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  "https://www.knltb.nl/media/xvtejmk4/eyxknltb_padel_in_cijfers-2025.pdf",
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 "text": "# Kroon Padel: market brief for spring 2027  \n**Information verified to 19 October 2026**\n\n## 1. Netherlands market size\n\n| Measure | Latest verified figure |\n|---|---:|\n| People who played at least once in 2025 | **876,000** [1] |\n| People playing at least monthly | **423,579** [1] |\n| KNLTB-registered padel players | **343,121**, up **10%** in 2025 [1] |\n| Courts at end-2025 | **3,523**, up **25%** year on year [1] |\n| Locations at end-2025 | **780**, up **15%** year on year [1] |\n\nThe court stock has more than tripled since 2021, when the Netherlands had 980 courts; however, KNLTB says annual court and location growth is beginning to moderate, albeit remaining in double digits.[1] Demand remains comparatively tight at approximately 120 monthly players per court.[1] ([knltb.nl](https://www.knltb.nl/media/xvtejmk4/eyxknltb_padel_in_cijfers-2025.pdf))\n\n**Most authoritative source:** the KNLTB/EY *Padel in Cijfers 2025* report.[1] KNLTB administrative records underpin registered-player, membership and infrastructure figures, while the wider participation estimate is validated using sources including NOC*NSF.[1] Accordingly, **343,121 should be treated as a registration count, while 876,000 is an estimated participation universe**, not a federation-membership figure.[1]\n\n## 2. Flanders and Belgium\n\nTennis and Padel Vlaanderen recorded **106,917 padel members in 2025**, an increase of **17.35%** from 2024.[3] This is the latest verified federation-player figure for Flanders; I could not verify a current consolidated figure covering both the Flemish and French-speaking Belgian federations.[3] ([tennisvlaanderen.m9.mailplus.nl](https://tennisvlaanderen.m9.mailplus.nl/archief/mailing-4547612.html))\n\nFlanders had **more than 1,500 padel courts by 2025**.[5] The official Statistiek Vlaanderen infrastructure series reports that the number of padel courts increased by **6% during 2025**.[4] The broader FIP country estimate for Belgium was **2,150 courts in mid-2025**, which includes courts outside Flanders.[8] ([vlaanderen.be](https://www.vlaanderen.be/statistiek-vlaanderen/sport/sportinfrastructuur?utm_source=openai))\n\n**Is it still growing at the same pace?** Not uniformly: federation membership is still expanding rapidly at **17.35%**, but physical infrastructure grew by a more moderate **6%** in 2025.[3][4] The market is therefore still growing strongly on the demand side, but court construction no longer appears to be matching the earlier explosive phase.[3][4]\n\n## 3. Global context\n\nThe latest commercial industry study matching this brief is the **Playtomic/Strategy& Global Padel Report 2026**.[6] It estimates **58,334 courts worldwide for 2025** and places both the **Netherlands and Belgium in its \u201cSweet Spot\u201d archetype**, alongside France, Switzerland and South Africa.[6][7] \u201cSweet Spot\u201d describes established growth markets in which demand and utilisation remain attractive but value creation increasingly depends on optimisation rather than simply adding courts.[6][7] ([worldpadelreport.com](https://worldpadelreport.com/?utm_source=openai))\n\nDo not mix that number with FIP\u2019s broader federation-based dataset: the **FIP World Padel Report 2025 counted 77,300 courts across 150 countries and 20 dependent territories**.[8] The difference reflects different coverage and methodology rather than necessarily an error.[6][8] ([padelfip.com](https://www.padelfip.com/2025/12/online-the-fip-world-padel-report-2025-a-comprehensive-analysis-of-a-sport-in-constant-growth/?utm_source=openai))\n\n## 4. Who plays in the Netherlands\n\nAmong KNLTB-registered players, the stated gender distribution has stabilised at approximately **65% men and 35% women**.[1] The largest age group is **25\u201334**, comprising **86,758 registered players in 2025**.[1] The report also identifies growth among players aged up to 17 and among the 45-plus categories.[1] ([knltb.nl](https://www.knltb.nl/media/xvtejmk4/eyxknltb_padel_in_cijfers-2025.pdf))\n\n## 5. Olympic angle \u2014 correction required\n\n**Padel has not been added to the LA 2028 Olympic programme.** The five additional sports approved by the IOC are baseball/softball, cricket T20, flag football, lacrosse sixes and squash.[9] Consequently, there are **no Olympic padel competition or qualification dates for 2028** around which Kroon can build a truthful campaign.[9] ([newsroom.olympics.com](https://newsroom.olympics.com/record/1285?utm_source=openai))\n\nThe LA28 Olympic Games themselves run from **14\u201330 July 2028**, but these dates should not be presented as padel dates.[10] The KNLTB\u2019s own 2025 report refers only to the *possibility* of future Olympic status.[1] ([la28.org](https://la28.org/en/newsroom/LA28_Announces_Games_Dates.html?utm_source=openai))\n\n**Recommendation:** remove \u201cpadel was added for LA28\u201d from all investor and campaign materials.\n\n## 6. Equipment market\n\nI could not verify the existence of a Deloitte publication titled *Benelux Padel Outlook 2026*, nor the claimed **\u20ac212 million Dutch equipment-market figure** or a corresponding page number. It should **not be included or footnoted** unless the CEO can provide the original Deloitte document for authentication.\n\n## 7. Racket-brand market shares\n\nI found **no credible, auditable public source** giving 2025 Dutch unit or revenue shares for Bullpadel, Head, Adidas, Babolat, Nox or other racket brands. Online product counts, retailer assortments, social-media followers and anecdotal popularity are not sales-market-share measures.\n\nThe requested table therefore cannot be supplied without proprietary sell-out data from a retail panel, distributors or major Dutch retailers. Any percentages presented without such data would be speculative.\n\n## 8. Two launch implications\n\n1. **Build for a large, flexible participation market rather than only federation members.** The difference between 876,000 annual participants and 343,121 KNLTB-registered players indicates a substantial occasional and pay-and-play audience.[1] Lead with accessible trial, demo and rental activation at commercial centres, while using club partnerships for retention and repeat purchase.[1]\n\n2. **Target the 25\u201334 core without making the brand male-only, and avoid Olympic claims.** The largest registered age group is 25\u201334, while women account for approximately 35% of registered players.[1] Creative and product imagery should therefore prioritise young-adult social play but visibly represent mixed and women\u2019s participation.[1] Position the launch around measurable Benelux growth\u2014not a nonexistent LA28 padel event.[3][4][9]\n\n---\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] KNLTB and EY, *Padel in Cijfers \u2013 Onderzoeksrapport 2025*:  \nhttps://www.knltb.nl/media/xvtejmk4/eyxknltb_padel_in_cijfers-2025.pdf\n\n[2] KNLTB, \u201c876.000 padelspelers in Nederland: groei zet door,\u201d 1 April 2026:  \nhttps://www.knltb.nl/nieuws/2026/03/knltb-en-ey-presenteren-tweede-editie-padel-in-cijfers/\n\n[3] Tennis en Padel Vlaanderen, \u201cRecordjaar voor Tennis en Padel Vlaanderen\u201d:  \nhttps://tennisvlaanderen.m9.mailplus.nl/archief/mailing-4547612.html\n\n[4] Statistiek Vlaanderen, \u201cSportinfrastructuur,\u201d published 18 February 2026:  \nhttps://www.vlaanderen.be/statistiek-vlaanderen/sport/sportinfrastructuur\n\n[5] Vlaams Parlement, written question 634, \u201cPadelterreinen \u2013 Actualisatie code van goede praktijk,\u201d 9 March 2026:  \nhttps://docs.vlaamsparlement.be/files/pfile?id=2316490\n\n[6] *World Padel Report 2026*, report overview:  \nhttps://worldpadelreport.com/\n\n[7] *World Padel Report 2026*, \u201cMarket Scale & Dynamics\u201d:  \nhttps://worldpadelreport.com/market-dynamics.html\n\n[8] International Padel Federation, *FIP World Padel Report 2025*:  \nhttps://www.padelfip.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FIP-WPR-2025_DIGITAL.pdf\n\n[9] International Olympic Committee, \u201cIOC Session approves LA28\u2019s proposal for five additional sports,\u201d 16 October 2023:  \nhttps://newsroom.olympics.com/record/1285\n\n[10] LA28, \u201cLA28 Announces Official Games Dates\u201d:  \nhttps://la28.org/en/newsroom/LA28_Announces_Games_Dates.html"
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