The Netherlands are back in FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Group 1 after winning Group 2 in 2015 under Italian coach Giovanni Guidetti. They are also qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after finishing second to Italy at the Women’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan from May 14 to 22.

It has been nine years since the Netherlands took World Grand Prix gold in 2007. The Netherlands were fourth at the 2009 World Grand Prix and won silver at the same year’s European Championship. More recently at the World Grand Prix they were seventh in 2010, 12th in 2013 and finished second in Group 2 in 2014. At the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, Gido Vermeulen led the Dutch to joint-13th place overall after they finished seventh in their second round pool.

The Netherlands last played at the Olympic Games 19 years ago and they were denied a spot at London 2012 when they lost to Russia in the qualifiers. In their two Olympic appearances they managed a sixth place finish in 1992 and fifth in 1996. At a continental level they finished ninth at the 2013 European Championship in Germany and Switzerland.