In November 2024, the Netherlands U17 national team traveled to the beautiful coast town of Side in Turkey for a training camp. The journey began on November 11^th with a flight from Amsterdam to Antalya, followed by a one-hour bus ride to the hotel. Upon arrival, the team enjoyed their dinner before heading to bed early, ready to kick-off their program the next day.

The first days of the trip were dedicated to intense preparations. The team had several training sessions to ensure they were ready for their first match. Outside of training, there was time for study and relaxation. The sense Deluxe hotel, with multiple pools, a fitness center and a beach nearby, provided the perfect setting for a work and recovery balance.

On November 14 the first match was played against Saudi Arabia U17. After a morning of team meetings and a nutritious breakfast, the squad traveled to the Emirhan Sport Center. The Netherlands’ thorough preparation paid off with an early goal in the ninth minute, and it certainly wasn’t their last goal. The pace and style of play allowed the Dutch team to dominate the first half. Although Saudi Arabia came close to equalizing in the second half, two additional goals from the Netherlands secured a decisive 5-2 victory.

The following days were dedicated to further training and addressing areas for improvement identified during the first match. In addition to the training sessions, the team also enjoyed two free afternoons, during which they participated in a group activity and had some time to relax by the pool.

After two days of rest, it was time for the second and final match against Germany on November 17. Both teams started strong but struggled to gain control over their opponent. In the 35^th minute it was the Netherlands who opened the score with a brilliant goal from Chivano Wijks. The match continued, and shortly after halftime, Germany managed to find the net twice, bringing the score to 2-1. However, because of some solid teamwork and a few impressive plays, the Netherlands equalized to 2-2, sending the game to penalties. In the end, Germany emerged victorious after the penalty shootout.

The day concluded with a final dinner at the hotel, celebrating the team’s achievements. The next day, the group traveled back to Amsterdam, carrying with them all the memories and valuable lessons from the trip.