Second edition of Haarlem autumn tournament leaves players wanting more

30 October, 2025

The 3x3 autumn tournament took place on October 18 in the Province of North Holland Sports Hall in Haarlem. Fourteen teams competed in two categories for the win. ‘It was a big success. After the games, several players came up to me to say how much they enjoyed it’, says 3X3 Leader Nordin Martina, who organized the event.

Although this was the second time the autumn tournament was held in Haarlem, it was Nordin’s first time as the main organizer. ‘Events like this are important to make 3x3 basketball more visible and to help the community grow’, he says

Nordin points out the large number of players. ‘Normally, about 20 people join our activities. But this time, more than 70 young players took part in the tournament. Many also brought their friends to watch. Some teams even came from other cities.’

To make the competition more exciting, the winners in both categories received a gift card. ‘You want to motivate the players’, Nordin explains. ‘When I organized the event, I thought: what would I want if I were playing in this tournament?’

If it’s up to Nordin, the event will keep growing. ‘This year, boys and girls played together. But next year, I’d love to have a separate category for girls. That’s a bit of a challenge because we still see more boys than girls joining our events.’

Still, he’s confident it will work out. ‘Haarlem has always been a real basketball city. It went a bit quiet for a while, but now we’re seeing a revival. The interest is big, and our community is growing fast. I think that’s amazing to see.’

Earlier this year, Haarlem’s Grote Markt already hosted the 3X3 Pro League. Not only did the best 3x3 players in the Netherlands show their skills, but together with local club Triple ThreaT, youth clinics and tournaments were also held.

‘It was great to host the Pro League in Haarlem for the first time, and through our partnership with Triple ThreaT we were able to make a real social impact’, said Jesper Jobse of 3X3 Unites earlier.