Richard de Lange: Voorburg Ready to Welcome the World as ETPL Arrives

For Richard de Lange, the arrival of the ETPL at Voorburg Cricket Club represents far more than another major tournament being staged at one of the Netherlands’ most established cricket grounds.

As Chairman of Voorburg Cricket Club, de Lange has witnessed the venue grow through years of international cricket. But even with that experience, he admits the scale of what lies ahead with the ETPL is difficult to comprehend.

"Everything we've organized so far, we've done quite a few international matches over the years. I think the most memorable ones were probably New Zealand in 2022 and last year we had for seven days the Cricket World Cup Qualifier," de Lange said.

Those occasions tested the club's ability to host international cricket at the highest level, requiring significant preparation, organisation and a willingness to stretch existing capabilities. Yet the ETPL presents an entirely different challenge.

"Those were big events where we really had to stretch ourselves to make it happen and this is a multiple of that. It's unimaginable almost in terms of exposure, in terms of effort, in terms of doing new things," he added.

For a club that has steadily established itself as an important part of Dutch cricket, hosting the ETPL is an opportunity to take another major step forward. The tournament will bring international stars, European talent and some of the biggest names in T20 cricket to Voorburg, placing the club and its facilities in front of a global audience. But for de Lange, the most important outcome will not necessarily be measured by the number of matches played or the size of the crowds.

It will be measured by what remains after the tournament leaves.

"We definitely hope that it's not only a few matches but it leaves a legacy for a longer term in terms of infrastructure, in terms of putting cricket on the map in the Netherlands, in terms of more people coming to the ground, in terms of people wanting to play cricket," he said.

That idea of legacy is particularly significant for Voorburg Cricket Club. Hosting a tournament of the ETPL's scale can accelerate improvements to infrastructure while introducing new audiences to a sport that remains relatively niche in parts of continental Europe.

For de Lange, however, the opportunity ultimately belongs to the public as much as it does to the club. His message to cricket supporters, sports fans and even those who have never experienced the game before is simple: come to Voorburg and see what European T20 cricket can offer.

"Take this unique opportunity for continental Europe to come over to Voorburg and see world-class cricket with a number of world champions in T20 or one-day format. It will be something you've never experienced before," he said.

The appeal, he believes, extends well beyond traditional cricket followers. T20's fast-paced format makes it accessible even to people discovering the sport for the first time.

"It's a unique chance if you're a hardcore cricket fan but it's definitely also a unique chance if you're a sports fan, if you're curious about what cricket is. It's not difficult, it's a limited amount of time. In three hours we have games played," de Lange said.

That accessibility could prove crucial as the ETPL looks to introduce cricket to new audiences across Europe.

For Voorburg Cricket Club, meanwhile, the tournament represents a defining moment. The club has already hosted New Zealand and a Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Now, it is preparing to welcome a competition designed to showcase the future of European cricket alongside some of the game's biggest stars.

And de Lange's invitation is unequivocal.

"You're very welcome and we'd encourage everyone to come over."

For a chairman who has seen the club rise to meet some of the biggest challenges in its history, the message carries particular weight. Voorburg is not simply preparing to host the ETPL. It is preparing to put itself, and Dutch cricket, firmly on the European sporting map.