Saestum take tremendous strides

With the second qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Cup starting in mid-September, uefa.com is taking a detailed look at each of the 16 clubs looking to progress to the quarter-finals and beyond. Today, Dutch team Saestum.

The city of Zeist could be said to be at the heart of the Dutch game, as the Royal Netherlands Football Association is based in the area. That is not the only thing that gives Zeist, a city with 60,000 inhabitants, a special resonance in Dutch football - Saestum have developed into a major force in the Netherlands, and are starting to become one in Europe as well.

Eight titles
Sport Vereniging Saestum were founded on 6 January 1926, but the women's section only began in 1981. They were part of the Hoofdklasse when the 12-team Dutch top-flight was formed and won their first title in 1996 - the first of five in a row, with further championships in 2002, 2005 and 2006, with Dutch Cup success in 1997, 1998 and 2004. They also won the first Dutch Super Cup in 2004, retaining it the following year 8-0 against Oranje Nassau and again in 2006 by defeating Fortuna Wormerveer.

European progress
Saestum made their UEFA Women's Cup bow in 2002/03, winning two of their three group games, and returned last season to progress to the second qualifying round - a Dutch first - where they had the misfortune to draw holders 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam and eventual semi-finalists Montpelier HSC, only losing narrowly to both. The next season they repeated the trick with first qualifying round wins.

Famous names
Among the club's players past and present have been Vera Pauw, now national team coach and a major figure in European women's football, Annemiek Griffioen and current captain Gilanne Louwaars. Coach Rik de Groot has been with the club since 1 July 2004, reviving their title-winning fortunes.