Women's football in the Netherlands has traditionally had a low profile and female players had to play abroad.

[9] On 17 April 1971, the French team played the first women's international football match recognized by FIFA against the Netherlands.

[10] The match took place in Hazebrouck, France and resulted in a 4–0 defeat for the Netherlands, with Jocelyne Ratignier scoring a hattrick.

[13] In 2017, the national team won the UEFA Women's Euro 2017, which the country also hosted.

[16] Two years later, in their second World Cup, the Dutch advanced all the way to the final before losing to the United States, 0–2.

From the Dutch perspective, the move was intended to improve the Netherlands women's national football team.