After the bid was awarded, the moment had arrived: from 26 November to 14 December 2025, the Handball World Championship took place on home soil. With Rotterdam Ahoy and the Maaspoort in ’s-Hertogenbosch as venues, the Netherlands spent three weeks immersed in top-level handball. From city dressing and ticket sales to hospitality and entertainment, the tournament delivered packed arenas and an exciting final weekend.

Back in time 

The road to the 2025 Handball World Championship began in 2019, when the Netherlands Handball Association (NHV) was approached by the International Handball Federation (IHF) to host the tournament. On the initiative of the German Handball Federation (DHB), a joint bid was chosen. From that moment, SportVibes and TIG Sports & Events became actively involved in the Dutch project organization, and after the bidbook was approved, preparations could officially get underway!

From strategy to full arenas

In our role as SportVibes, we developed and executed complete marketing campaigns that boosted ticket sales, while simultaneously ensuring local visibility and activations in Rotterdam and ’s-Hertogenbosch. Our efforts to maximize media impact reached 215 million people worldwide and 3.69 million nationally, making the Handball World Championship an experience not only in the arenas but across the Netherlands and beyond.

Roaring Arena 

During the tournament, we enjoyed an incredible atmosphere, with packed stands time and again during TeamNL’s matches. In total, the two host cities welcomed 105,000 fans, and the event’s visibility extended far beyond the arenas. Thanks to a smart mix of marketing, activations, and partnerships, the Handball World Championship was experienced not only in the stands but also gained national and international exposure. With the support of our partners, we were able to scale both the visibility and the fan experience of the tournament across the country.

A World Championship to remember

The result? A World Championship you simply wanted to be part of. The speed and intensity of the sport naturally created breathtaking moments, but it was the combination of fans in the stands, entertainment, smart activations, and a complete experience package that made the tournament truly unforgettable. Altogether, the collaboration between SportVibes, NHV, TIG Sports & Events, and all other stakeholders ensured that the 2025 Handball World Championship delivered a top-level experience—athletically, organizationally, and in terms of fan engagement.