Tension rises after two successful stops in the Rabo 3x3 Street League

5 June, 2026

There were flashy dunks, music blasting from the speakers, and on the sidelines parents, friends, and neighbors cheered along while the players battled it out on the court and caught up with each other afterward. Across the Netherlands, the first two stops of the Rabo 3x3 Street League took place over the past two weekends. If those two rounds made one thing clear, it’s that the biggest and most accessible 3x3 basketball competition in the country is not just about winning, but also about connecting and building something bigger together.

Games were played in no fewer than 21 districts, on local courts, in parks, neighborhoods, and city centers. And with just one stop to go, the tension is rising. Because there’s something at stake: the winners of each district qualify for the national finals, which will be played at the 3X3 Festival — the largest 3x3 event in the Netherlands, taking place from June 19 to 21 at the NDSM Wharf in Amsterdam. There, the best professional 3x3 teams in the world will also compete during the FIBA 3x3 World Tour & Women’s Series Amsterdam. This is where everything comes together — from basketball on local courts to the absolute world elite. From the streets to the top.

High time to look back at the first two stops of the Rabo 3x3 Street League in various cities:

Nick Dijks, regional lead Arnhem

“I wouldn’t necessarily call the 3x3 Street League a 3x3 basketball tournament, but rather a community event. That’s what the first two stops in Arnhem felt like. During the first stop, players from different teams didn’t really know each other yet. But in the second weekend, you could really see a connection starting to form. Between games and afterward, everyone would sit together.”

“That’s exactly what the 3x3 Street League represents for me. 3x3 basketball is the perfect means to achieve our goal: bringing people together, making new connections, having fun, and building a community. We’ve had young people here who are crazy about basketball for a while, but thanks to the 3x3 Street League, there’s now an event that brings all those young people together and gives them a place to meet.”

“We host the 3x3 Street League in Sonsbeek Park. We were lucky with the weather, and there were a lot of people in the park. Many of them stopped by out of curiosity, which kept the sidelines busy throughout the day. A father and his son asked who we were and what exactly we do. I told them we are 3X3 Unites and that we use 3x3 basketball as a tool to give young people opportunities to develop themselves, offer perspective, and help them grow into role models and leaders in their communities. I also mentioned that we organize activations in the neighborhood. The father said that sounded like something for his son.”

“Some participants didn’t realize at first that the winners of the Street League in Arnhem qualify for the finals at the 3X3 Festival. When they found out, their faces lit up. That was great to see. Yes— from the streets to the top.” “I wouldn’t necessarily call the 3x3 Street League a 3x3 basketball tournament, but rather a community event. That’s what the first two stops in Arnhem felt like. During the first stop, players from different teams didn’t really know each other yet. But in the second weekend, you could really see a connection starting to form. Between games and afterward, everyone would sit together.”

Sarah Hoedeman, regional lead Hoofddorp

“What I enjoy most is seeing that everyone is having a great time. The competitiveness on the court, the friendly atmosphere on the sidelines, and the way everyone interacts with each other. I see the Rabo 3x3 Street League as a kind of my own project that I run together with the 3X3 Leader. When I see all that happiness and positivity, I really enjoy it.”

“It’s great to see that teams who participated in the first stop also came back for the second. In fact, there were even a few players who had already taken part in the 3x3 Street League a few years ago. On the court, everyone wants to win, but off the court it’s mainly about having a good time, with everyone chatting and connecting. That really gives me a sense of community.”

“Our court is located next to a recreational lake. When the under-13 category had finished, we still had some time left. We went to the little beach by the lake with all the under-13 teams and wrapped up the day together in a fun way. That was really great. Because it was so warm, we had already gotten ice creams for everyone in between games.”

“The 3x3 Street League also helps make us more visible as 3X3 Unites. That’s also thanks to the 3X3 Leaders who helped with the setup and during the event. Quite a lot of people came to watch who didn’t exactly know what we do. We explained it to them and told them that we organize activities more often and that they’re always welcome to join.”

Karin Kuijt, regional lead Katwijk

“A great success — that’s how I would describe the first two stops of the 3x3 Street League in Katwijk. The first stop was played outdoors. The second stop was combined with the final event of the 3X3 Leader Course, and we went a bit bigger. We invited Serg’s Kitchen, who provided delicious Surinamese sandwiches for all participants and their parents. Super tasty and a great atmosphere.”

“In Katwijk, we don’t yet have a 3x3 program, so it’s important that through the 3x3 Street League we show who we are as 3X3 Unites and what we do. And that didn’t go unnoticed, because we had a special guest: the mayor. He even posted about it on social media. He also saw that the 3x3 Street League is an event where everyone comes together and where young people get active.”

“The level of play during the games was high, and everyone wants to win — I love seeing that. Everyone is eager to make it to the finals at the 3X3 Festival. One team even came up to me to ask how many points they had so far and what they needed to do in the third stop to finish first. With the finals at the 3X3 Festival, the teams really have something to play for.”

Egor Fomin, regional lead Groningen

“The first stop of the 3x3 Street League in Groningen was awesome. Everyone was in great spirits, and we had teams competing in all categories — from under-12 to under-19. Unfortunately, we had to partially cancel the second stop due to bad weather. But that doesn’t take away from the fun, because the excitement is building with the final stop just around the corner.”

“I really loved seeing how the 3X3 Leaders stepped up and took on their roles, making sure everything ran smoothly. From welcoming the teams to explaining the rules, and from creating the game schedule to connecting with participants and having conversations with everyone. And the best part was: they all had big smiles on their faces.”

“With their proactive attitude, the 3X3 Leaders also got the participants excited. Some even asked whether they could become 3X3 Leaders themselves and if that was possible in cities other than Groningen. That’s great to see, right? That the 3X3 Leaders are role models and inspire others.”

“Now that the third and final stop of the Rabo 3x3 Street League is approaching, the tension is rising. I can tell that everyone is really looking forward to it, because there’s something special at stake: a spot in the finals at the 3X3 Festival in Amsterdam.”

Raul Villavicencio, Rabo 3x3 Street League captain Amsterdam South and Southeast Amsterdam‘

“I want to give big props to the 3X3 Leaders who helped organize the first two stops of the 3x3 Street League in Amsterdam Zuidoost. Everything was really well organized and it was super fun. The atmosphere was great, partly thanks to two local DJs.”

“What’s great about the Rabo 3x3 Street League is that it’s free and very accessible. We had open walk-in participation, and at the last minute a team just joined in. I thought that was really cool. There was also a team made up of 3X3 Leaders, who competed against the other teams. Now it’s on to the final stop, where it will become clear who will be crowned winners.”