Leaders of Unites #134 - Lotte van Kruistum

13 May, 2026

"During the Girls Only 3X3 Leader Course, we had many beautiful and valuable conversations"

As a child, I tried many sports other than basketball

My name is Lotte van Kruistum and I am 22 years old. I was born in Katwijk and have lived there my whole life. I have been playing basketball since I was six years old and I currently play for the first team of Grasshoppers and for the Dutch women’s 3x3 team. I am on the court every day.

I have a brother, but he is not as sporty as I am. Still, he sometimes comes to watch me play, especially during important games. Last year he was even sitting in the stands in Copenhagen with my father, where we won the European title with the Dutch 3x3 team. I thought that was very special.

My family follows everything I do very closely anyway. When I play for Grasshoppers, my father and mother, my grandparents and my aunt come to watch if they can. I like it when they are there. They are very fanatical supporters, and I like that.

The funny thing is that I do not come from a basketball family at all. As a child, I tried many other sports. I played tennis for two years, really wanted to do speed skating and also took dance lessons for a short time. I thought those sports were kind of strange. At one point my father asked me if basketball might be something for me.

When I was 14, I noticed that I really had talent for basketball

The first two years at Grasshoppers were difficult. I was in the beginners’ group and at first I did not really enjoy it. But the better I became, the more I started to like it. A few years later, I think when I was 14, I noticed that I really had talent for basketball. I developed quickly and was allowed to play with higher-level teams.

By now I have already been playing for the first team of Grasshoppers for six years, although I currently combine that with the Dutch 3x3 team. After the summer, I will focus completely on 3x3 for one season, because that will be the pre-Olympic year. Our goal is to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

That is for later. Right now, I want to finish the season with Grasshoppers well. At Grasshoppers, Karin Kuijt is my teammate. But above all, she is a good friend of mine. Through her I knew what 3X3 Unites does. So when I was looking for an internship for my Pedagogy studies, I asked her if 3X3 Unites needed interns.

During the Girls Only 3X3 Leader Course, we had many beautiful and valuable conversations

During my internship, I took part in the first Girls Only 3X3 Leader Course in Amsterdam. I thought it was very special to follow the course with only girls. Girls understand each other better or can relate to each other more easily. That led to many beautiful and valuable conversations.

I still clearly remember that we talked about body positivity. Everyone dared to open up and share personal stories. The others listened carefully. I thought that was so beautiful. It meant that everyone felt safe and trusted one another. We still have a very good bond with each other.

At the moment, together with a few teammates from Grasshoppers, I am following the regular 3X3 Leader Course in Katwijk. We are busy with our final assignment: organizing an event around the Rabo 3x3 Street League in Katwijk. We are arranging a food stand and music and want to make the Street League as fun as possible for everyone from Katwijk and the surrounding area.

Photography has really become a hobby of mine

As a player for the Dutch 3x3 team, I play many tournaments abroad. Besides that, I enjoy going on trips or weekend getaways with friends and family. I always take my camera with me on those occasions. I like looking back at the photos every now and then. They are special memories.

Recently I was in Bangkok, in Thailand to be exact. I really took some beautiful photos there. Of life on the streets, the people, the culture, but also just funny photos of my girlfriends, haha. Photography has really become a hobby of mine.

When we travel abroad for tournaments with the Dutch team, it is sometimes more difficult to take the time to make beautiful photos. Then I have a busy schedule and I am mainly focused on basketball. Yes, if we get eliminated early, I have more time to take photos, but that is not really the goal when you travel abroad for a tournament with the Dutch team, haha.

I hope I can keep playing basketball fulltime for as long as possible, because it is the thing I enjoy most in life

I am currently in the second year of my Pedagogy studies. I am almost halfway through, although it will probably take me a little longer because besides my studies I also play basketball fulltime. And I want to keep doing that for as long as possible. For me, basketball is the most enjoyable thing there is.

In the future, I would like to do something related to my studies, although I do not yet know exactly what. That could also be something within 3X3 Unites. I have always said they can call me anytime. As soon as something comes my way that suits me, I will think about it. But first I just want to keep enjoying basketball myself and make sure that the Street League in Katwijk becomes a success.