Norway entered the championship as title holders, after beaten 2009 hosts Hungary 29–27 in the previous tournament's final.

In Arnhem, where hosts Netherlands play their preliminary group, will also be held main round clashes and the placement matches 9–16.

[2] A total of 29 national teams registered for the tournament, from which the four best placed teams of the 2009 European Women's U-19 Handball Championship, namely Denmark, France, Norway and Russia automatically qualified for the championship, joined by organizer country Netherlands.

The remaining twenty-four teams competed between 21 and 24 April 2011 in six groups of four for the eleven spots left.

[9] The draw for the groups of the final tournament took place in Leek, Netherlands, on 27 April 2011.