For the first time in their history, the Netherlands women have booked a place at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, a landmark moment that rewrites what has long been possible for an associate nation built on persistence rather than privilege. The qualification is not just a result on the scoreboard, but the culmination of years of quiet work, personal sacrifice, and belief shared across a tightly knit group.
In an exclusive conversation with Vishal Yadav for Female Cricket, the all-rounder admitted that even after the celebrations had begun and history had been made, the magnitude of the moment hadn’t fully settled in. “It’s weird because I woke up this morning and it still didn’t really feel real. Even now sitting here it doesn’t feel real, it seems like I’m in a dream and it’s not real, but it really is,” she said, describing the surreal feeling that followed the Netherlands’ historic achievement. While she was still shaking off the effects of illness, the joy and relief were impossible to ignore.
When rain ultimately brought play to a halt and confirmed the Netherlands’ qualification, the emotions came rushing in. “It was a lot of relief and a lot of pride,” Zwilling reflected. “Relief because we know we’re a good side and we’ve been trying to show everyone, and now with the performance we’ve had. We’ve had a five-win streak, I think we’ve shown the world how strong a side we are, beating strong teams.” But beyond validation, there was deep pride in the journey itself. “We’ve worked so hard to reach this goal. We’ve been working towards this together for so many years,” she said, summing up a moment that was as much about perseverance as it was about history.
Zwilling’s cricket journey began almost casually, first playing because she enjoyed the sport, not because of expectation or ambition. Encouraged by watching her siblings, she played in mixed youth games and was eventually noticed by parents and selectors. That early spark of enjoyment, she says, helped sustain her through years of commitment and development. “I started playing cricket just because I really enjoyed it… and because I just started playing cricket for fun, I’ve always just really played for fun,” she said. “Despite the level I’m playing at, I’m still just enjoying every minute on the field.”
That joy has translated into consistent contributions for the Dutch side. In women’s T20 Internationals (T20Is), Zwilling has played 89 matches and taken 98 wickets at an average of 15.80, with an economy rate of 5.08. As a batter, she has scored 861 runs at an average of 14.84 and a strike rate of 93.08, including two half-centuries. She is also among the Netherlands women’s leading wicket-takers in WT20Is, a testament to her sustained performance for the national side.
Sharing this moment with her sister and fellow cricketer Mikkie Zwilling made the milestone even more emotional for her. The bond of family and the shared experience of struggle and achievement came to the fore in their conversation.
“I rang her last night, and we were both crying on the phone… she’s been in and out of the setup as well, and she’s just so happy for us and so proud of us,” she said.
Now nearing 25, Zwilling joked about her place in the team’s generational mix. “I definitely don’t consider myself the youngest anymore,” she said with a smile. Zwilling also spoke candidly about the transition she is navigating within the team, gradually stepping into a more senior role. While she recognises that she now has the experience to guide younger players, she admitted that it still feels like a learning curve particularly when offering input to teammates of a similar age and experience.
Zwilling has made a name for herself with multiple notable performances and bowling figures, but she refuses to let statistics define her approach. “I generally don’t look at my figures too much because figures don’t always tell the whole tale,” she explained. “Sometimes I have an incredible bowling spell, I take no wickets and I go for runs, and sometimes I do not have a very good bowling spell and I take wickets…I just try and really look at every single ball I bowled.” That mindset valuing discipline and self-evaluation over raw numbers has helped keep her grounded even as she builds an impressive international resume.
Like many of her teammates, Zwilling has experienced firsthand the challenges facing associate nations. Limited facilities, minimal coaching support, and scarce resources are part of the reality in the Netherlands. Reflecting on her time training and playing overseas in Australia, she noted just how stark the difference can be. She takes pride in what the Dutch side has achieved despite these limitations, believing it highlights the team’s underlying skill and potential.
“We generally only have one coach at training, and if we’re lucky, we train on grass once a week… it’s crazy to them that I play for an international team and we have nothing like that,” she said.
Preparation for the qualification campaign tested the squad physically and mentally. Some players trained in freezing indoor nets with no heaters, while others, like Zwilling, came straight from summer conditions abroad. But the shared commitment and coaching quality, particularly under Neil MacRae and Jonathan Vandiar helped the team grow on and off the field.
“Things could be a lot better facility-wise… but things have been progressing so much that we have to be happy with what we’ve been given, and I think with us performing better now I think more good things will come.”
Perhaps the most powerful part of Zwilling’s message came for the young girls watching from afar, dreaming of their own place on the world stage. “This could be you. I think we’ve all been that young girl watching others on TV or watching other people in interviews and you never really think oh that could be me, but I want girls to think that can be me, and I want them to believe that that can be them. If they work hard enough, train hard enough, they could make it to the World Cup one day as well.”
As the celebrations slowly settle and focus shifts to the challenges that await on the world stage, Zwilling remains grounded in what has brought the Netherlands this far — effort, togetherness, and love for the game. With history now behind them and opportunity ahead, Zwilling and her teammates carry more than just a debut World Cup appearance, they carry proof that even from the margins, belief and hard work can open the doors to the global game.
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