Netherlands to host a World Cup game in 1999 (7 June 1997)

The Netherlands will host one of the preliminary round matches of the 1999 World Cup in England. On 31 May, a delegation of the ECB visited the official opening match of the grass wicket of VRA in Amstelveen (near Amsterdam). Right after giving the wicket their approval, Tim Lamb, chief executive officer of the ECB, announced that this summer it will be decided which match will be played on the Dutch ground.

The ground was also judged good enough to host a NatWest trophy match next year, if the Dutch draw a home game.