A memorable first 3X3 Festival: ‘This is what we stand for’

25 June, 2026

3X3 Unites organised the very first 3X3 Festival from June 19 to 21. At the NDSM Wharf in Amsterdam, elite and grassroots sports came together in a fantastic way. “I am incredibly proud of what we achieved together and that we have shown it is possible to organise a festival centred around basketball in the Netherlands”, says Jesper Jobse, co-founder of 3X3 Unites.

The 3X3 Festival showed exactly what 3X3 Unites stands for. Using 3x3 basketball as a tool, the organisation creates opportunities for young people to develop into role models and leaders in their communities, on their journey towards reaching their own top. It is no coincidence that the motto of 3X3 Unites is: from the streets to the top.

While the best male and female 3x3 basketball players in the world faced each other in the main stadium during the FIBA 3x3 World Tour & Women’s Series, young people competed on the outdoor courts in the finals of the Rabo 3x3 Street League, the most accessible and free basketball competition in the Netherlands.“

We have been organising the FIBA 3x3 World Tour & Women’s Series for several years now. But by building the 3X3 Festival around it, we were able for the first time to truly show who we are as 3X3 Unites and what we stand for”, says Jesper. “That is what makes this weekend so special to me.”

Over the course of three days, more than 10,000 people attended the 3X3 Festival. They not only enjoyed matches at the highest international level and 3X3 Unites’ own Rabo 3x3 Street League, but also took part in various activities and side events.

There was a Panna Knock Out tournament, several talks and panel discussions were organised, and throughout the festival grounds visitors could find life-sized displays of the 3X3 Leaders, the young people at the heart of 3X3 Unites. They were portrayed in beautiful photographs, accompanied by a quote about their journey towards their personal top.

The 3X3 Festival also marked the tenth anniversary of 3X3 Unites, which started in 2016 on the basketball courts of Amsterdam Southeast and has since grown into a nationwide movement active in more than 40 municipalities. The organisation’s own 3X3 Festival is, for now, its biggest highlight. “The fact that after ten years we are capable of achieving something like this together is truly amazing”, says Jesper.

There was also plenty to celebrate on the court inside the main stadium. On Sunday, more than 3,000 spectators in the packed stands witnessed two exciting finals, with Dutch teams competing in both the men’s and women’s events. Team Amsterdam, without the injured Worthy de Jong, narrowly lost to Germany’s Baskets Bonn (19-21).

In the women’s competition, the Dutch 3x3 basketball players lived up to their status as favourites. In front of an ecstatic crowd, they defeated Rapid Bucharest from Romania in the final (20-14). “It was really great to see the entire stadium filled and the atmosphere was fantastic”, says Jesper.

He is already looking forward to the second edition of the 3X3 Festival next year. “I think we have laid a beautiful and unique foundation that we want to continue building on together with the entire team and all our partners. If the first edition proved one thing, it is that it is possible to organise a festival around 3x3 basketball that not only creates space for elite sport, but also allows us to make a social impact.”

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