Korfball was developed in the early years of the twentieth century.

Korfball’s originator, Nico Broekhuysen, taught pre-teen boys and girls in one of Amsterdam’s poorer districts. Inspired by an early version of basketball he saw demonstrated at a physical education summer school, he sought to find a simple way of including both genders equally. 

He was intent on developing a co-operative yet competitive physical activity for boys and girls to enjoy together. 

Korfball was his solution.

Korfball is now played in around 70 countries, and growing. Although korfball is most solidly established in Europe, particularly the Netherlands and Belgium, the sport’s pioneer territory, it also flourishes in several Asian countries and is gaining ground in Africa and South America.

Korfball New Zealand was established in 1997, and has gained substantial ground since around 2015 with a focus on schools development, initially in Canterbury, now more widely.

Korfball New Zealand regularly organises representative teams to participate in international tournaments, at age group and senior levels.