Kobe Verwimp’s international record contains an unusual positional overlap. Volleyball World still listed him as an outside hitter at the 2023 U19 World Championship, where he scored 30 points, while Belgium had already selected him as a libero for the senior Red Dragons program that same year. He is now established in the defensive role for Volley Haasrode Leuven and the Belgium men’s national team.
Born on January 13, 2005, Verwimp has spent his entire senior club career in Belgium. He joined Haasrode Leuven for 2023/24 and remains with the club for 2026/27. His senior international résumé already includes silver at the 2024 Volleyball Challenger Cup, seventh place at the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship and Belgium’s run to the EuroVolley 2026 quarterfinals.
Player Information
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kobe Verwimp |
| Date of Birth | January 13, 2005 |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Position | Libero |
| Height | 181 cm |
| Weight | 69 kg |
| Attack Reach | 327 cm |
| Block Reach | 296 cm |
| Previous Club | Topsportschool Vilvoorde |
| Current Club | Volley Haasrode Leuven |
| Club Number | 9 |
| National Team | Belgium Men’s National Volleyball Team |
| National-Team Number | 15 at EuroVolley 2026 |
| Senior National Team | Since 2023 |
| Senior Caps | 29 on the current Topvolley Belgium player listing |
Early Life & Volleyball Development
Verwimp was already involved in Belgium’s age-group national-team structure several years before reaching senior international volleyball. CEV records place him in European youth competition from 2019 onward, followed by U17/U18, U19/U20 and U20 events as he progressed through the Belgian development system.
His club development included Topsportschool Vilvoorde before his move to Volley Haasrode Leuven in 2023. The transition brought him directly into Belgium’s top domestic league and European club competition while he was still completing his youth international years.
What makes this stage of his development especially interesting is that Verwimp was not used exclusively as a libero.
At the 2023 FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championship, Volleyball World officially listed him as an outside hitter. He finished the tournament with 30 points in eight matches, including 29 successful attacks and one block. He scored nine points against Chile, six against Italy and ten against Bulgaria.
At the same time, Belgium’s senior national-team staff was already viewing him differently. When head coach Emanuele Zanini announced his 2023 European Golden League longlist, Verwimp was included among the four libero candidates.
The overlap continued into the following age-group season. In January 2024, Belgium’s U20 team took third place at the WEVZA first-round tournament for the European Championship. Verwimp started the bronze-medal victory over Switzerland in a normal court position while his younger brother Matis was specifically listed as the libero.
Those experiences gave Kobe a broader technical background than a player who had spent every stage of development exclusively in a defensive specialist role. By senior club and national-team level, however, libero had become his established position.
Club Career
Moving to Volley Haasrode Leuven
Verwimp joined Volley Haasrode Leuven for the 2023/24 season after his time at Topsportschool Vilvoorde.
The transfer placed him in a team competing simultaneously in Belgium and Europe. CEV records list him as Leuven’s No. 9 libero in the club’s 2024, 2025 and 2026 European campaigns, covering three consecutive seasons of continental competition.
His first season coincided with an expanding role for a player who was also entering Belgium’s senior national-team environment. Leuven finished fourth in the Belgian league in 2023/24 and competed in the CEV Cup.
By 2024/25, the club had moved closer to the top of Belgian volleyball.
Belgian Championship Final in 2024/25
Volley Haasrode Leuven finished second in the inaugural BeNe Conference regular-season standings in 2024/25, behind Knack Volley Roeselare.
The domestic playoffs then produced an even more significant result. Leuven reached the Belgian championship final against Knack, extending the series to four matches before Roeselare retained the title.
For Verwimp, the run provided a season of high-pressure matches while he continued to carry the specialized reception and defensive workload expected from a starting libero.
European competition was again part of the schedule. Leuven played in the CEV Cup, continuing the sequence of continental appearances that began immediately after his arrival.
Champions League and a Large Reception Workload
The 2025/26 season took Leuven into the CEV Champions League. CEV’s official roster listed Verwimp as No. 9 and recorded him at 181 cm and 69 kg.
Domestic league data gives a clearer picture of how much work he handled in the back court. The Belgian Volleyball League recorded Verwimp across 29 matches and 112 sets during the 2025/26 season, with 641 receptions included in its libero ranking.
That volume is particularly relevant for his position. Libero performance is difficult to summarize through conventional point totals because the role is built around first contact, court coverage and keeping rallies playable rather than attacking, blocking or serving for points.
Verwimp finished ninth in the league’s libero ranking, which is calculated primarily from reception performance and workload rather than scoring.
Leuven did not repeat its trip to the Belgian championship final in 2025/26, but the season gave Verwimp another full campaign of domestic and European experience before the club committed to retaining him.
Staying with Leuven for 2026/27
Volley Haasrode Leuven confirmed its 2026/27 roster on April 4, 2026. Verwimp was one of six players retained from the existing first team and one of two liberos kept for the new season, alongside Martin Parmentier.
The decision extends his continuous spell with Leuven to a fourth season.
It also gives the club continuity in a specialist position. Verwimp has already played European competition with Leuven in the CEV Cup and Champions League, and his international workload with Belgium has added experience against opponents from outside the domestic league.
He continues to wear No. 9 for Haasrode Leuven.
Club Career Timeline
| Seasons | Team | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2021/22–2022/23 | Topsportschool Vilvoorde | Belgium |
| 2023/24–present | Volley Haasrode Leuven | Belgium |
National Team Career
Verwimp entered Belgium’s senior national-team program in 2023 while still competing in youth volleyball.
Zanini’s European Golden League longlist that year specifically named him among the libero options, alongside Martin Perin, Sibren Peters and Sebastien Dumont. CEV records also place Verwimp in Belgium’s 2023 Golden League and EuroVolley program.
Later that year, he was added to Belgium’s group for the Olympic Qualification Tournament in China. Topvolley Belgium announced that Verwimp and veteran middle blocker Pieter Coolman were joining the squad before the tournament, with Verwimp listed as one of the team’s liberos.
Silver at the 2024 Volleyball Challenger Cup
The 2024 Volleyball Challenger Cup became Verwimp’s first major senior international medal.
Belgium entered the event in Linyi, China, and defeated Croatia in five sets in the quarterfinal. The Red Dragons then recovered from a two-set deficit to beat Ukraine 3–2 in the semifinal.
China won the final 3–1, leaving Belgium with silver in its first appearance at the tournament.
Volleyball World’s player data lists Verwimp as a libero in all three Belgian matches. As expected for the position, he finished without a scoring point; his contribution came in the defensive phases rather than at the net.
The tournament was another step in his transition away from the attacking role still visible in his youth records.
2025 World Championship
Verwimp remained with Belgium for the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship in the Philippines.
Belgium produced one of the strongest World Championship campaigns in its modern history. The Red Dragons won all three Pool F matches, including a five-set victory over defending champions Italy, to advance as pool winners.
A straight-set victory over Finland in the round of 16 then sent Belgium into the World Championship quarterfinals for the first time in 55 years.
Italy won the quarterfinal rematch, but Belgium completed the tournament in seventh place.
Verwimp was included in the Belgian roster as No. 13. Volleyball World’s database continued to carry an older outside-hitter position label, but his current federation, club and CEV records identify him as a libero.
Volleyball Nations League 2026
Belgium returned to the Volleyball Nations League in 2026, and Verwimp was involved throughout the preliminary phase.
Volleyball World lists him in all 12 of Belgium’s preliminary-round matches. He wore No. 13.
A June match against Poland showed how Belgium used its defensive specialists. Zanini started both Gorik Lantsoght and Verwimp in the libero group as the Red Dragons went two sets ahead of the world No. 1 before eventually losing 3–2.
Volleyball World logged eight successful defensive actions for Verwimp in that match from 17 total attempts in the relevant defensive stat line.
The absence of scoring points across the VNL is consistent with his role rather than an indication of limited involvement. His work was concentrated in serve reception, digging and back-court organization.
EuroVolley 2026
Verwimp remained in Belgium’s European Championship program later in the summer.
CEV’s EuroVolley 2026 roster lists him as a 181 cm libero wearing No. 15. That differs from the No. 13 he used during the VNL and from the generic No. 13 shown on Topvolley Belgium’s current player page.
Belgium won Pool C in Tampere and then defeated Czechia 3–1 in the round of 16. The result sent the Red Dragons into their first European Championship quarterfinal since 2017.
Slovenia ended Belgium’s run with a 3–1 victory in Turin on September 23.
For Verwimp, the tournament completed another senior international summer that included both VNL and EuroVolley competition before his return to club volleyball.
Playing Style & Strengths
Verwimp’s present game is built around the core responsibilities of a modern libero: serve reception, floor defence, reading developing attacks and giving the setter a usable first contact under pressure.
His earlier history as an outside hitter makes his development less conventional. He had real attacking responsibilities in youth competition rather than simply being entered under the wrong positional label. At the 2023 U19 World Championship, his 29 successful attacks confirm that he was actively used as a scorer.
That background means his development included years of receiving while also preparing to attack from the left side. At senior level, those front-row responsibilities have disappeared and his workload has become increasingly specialized around the first contact.
The scale of that defensive workload is visible in Belgian league data. During 2025/26, he appeared in 29 matches and 112 sets for Haasrode Leuven, with 641 receptions recorded in the league’s libero statistics.
At 181 cm, Verwimp also has a physical profile typical of a back-court specialist rather than an international-level pin attacker. His current Belgian federation profile lists an attack reach of 327 cm and a block reach of 296 cm.
His height is one area where official sources disagree. Current CEV, Belgian league and Volleyball World competition listings use 181 cm, while Topvolley Belgium’s federation profile lists 184 cm. The 181 cm figure is the one used consistently in his current club and international competition records.
Belgium has also used Verwimp alongside other specialist liberos rather than making him the only defensive option. In 2026, he shared national-team duties with Gorik Lantsoght, while at club level Leuven retained both Verwimp and Martin Parmentier for 2026/27.
That competition for minutes makes reception stability particularly important. A libero does not need to generate visible scoring numbers to influence a match; the quality of the first pass determines how many attacking options the setter can keep available.
Major Achievements
Selected National Team Honors
| Year | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | WEVZA U20 European Championship First Round | Bronze / 3rd place |
| 2024 | FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup | Silver medal |
| 2025 | FIVB Men’s World Championship | Quarterfinalist / 7th place |
| 2026 | CEV European Championship | Quarterfinalist |
Selected Club Honors
| Season | Competition | Result | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | BeNe Conference | Runner-up | Volley Haasrode Leuven |
| 2024/25 | Belgian Championship | Runner-up | Volley Haasrode Leuven |
Volleyball Family
Volleyball is also part of Verwimp’s family history.
His younger brother Matis Verwimp is a libero as well and plays for Lindemans Aalst. The brothers have represented Belgium in the same youth generation and have since become opponents in the Belgian league.
Their grandfather, Fernand Walder, provides an older connection to the national team. Walder represented Belgium in men’s volleyball at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where Belgium finished eighth.
A 2025 Lotto Volley League feature on Kobe and Matis Verwimp described both brothers as having grown up with the same family volleyball influence and identified Walder as an important source of inspiration.
The contrast between the two brothers is particularly interesting because both became liberos at senior club level even though Kobe continued to appear as an outside hitter in age-group competition into 2024.
Where Is Kobe Verwimp Playing Now?
Kobe Verwimp plays for Volley Haasrode Leuven in the 2026/27 Belgian season.
The club officially confirmed in April 2026 that he would remain as one of its two liberos for the new campaign. He continues to wear No. 9.
The new season is his fourth consecutive year with Leuven after joining from Topsportschool Vilvoorde in 2023.
He enters 2026/27 with considerably more international experience than he had when he first arrived. Since joining Leuven, Verwimp has been part of Belgium’s European Golden League and EuroVolley programs, won Challenger Cup silver, appeared at the 2025 World Championship, played throughout the 2026 VNL preliminary phase and remained in the squad for EuroVolley 2026.
Topvolley Belgium currently lists him with 29 senior caps.
At 21, he is still at an early stage for a specialist position in which reading, anticipation and first-contact consistency can continue developing well beyond the beginning of a senior career.
Recent Performance Snapshot
| Date / Competition | Performance / Milestone |
|---|---|
| July 2024 — Volleyball Challenger Cup | Played in Belgium’s three matches as the Red Dragons reached the final and won silver |
| 2024/25 BeNe Conference | Helped Volley Haasrode Leuven finish second behind Knack Volley Roeselare |
| 2024/25 Belgian Championship | Reached the championship final with Leuven and finished runner-up |
| September 2025 — FIVB Men’s World Championship | Part of the Belgium squad that reached the quarterfinals and finished seventh |
| 2025/26 Belgian League | 29 matches, 112 sets and 641 receptions in the league’s libero statistics |
| June 24, 2026 — VNL vs. Poland | Used in Belgium’s starting libero group in a five-set match against the world No. 1 |
| 2026 VNL | Listed in all 12 Belgian preliminary-round matches |
| September 2026 — EuroVolley | Part of Belgium’s run to its first European Championship quarterfinal since 2017 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Kobe Verwimp?
Current CEV, Belgian league and Volleyball World competition listings give Verwimp’s height as 181 cm. Topvolley Belgium currently lists him at 184 cm.
What position does Kobe Verwimp play?
Verwimp is a libero for Volley Haasrode Leuven and the Belgium men’s national team. Earlier in his youth career, he was also used as an outside hitter and scored 30 points at the 2023 U19 World Championship.
Which club does Kobe Verwimp play for?
Verwimp plays for Volley Haasrode Leuven. The club retained him for the 2026/27 season, his fourth consecutive campaign with the team.
What number does Kobe Verwimp wear?
Verwimp wears No. 9 for Volley Haasrode Leuven. His national-team number has varied by competition: he wore No. 13 during the 2026 Volleyball Nations League and was listed as No. 15 for EuroVolley 2026.
When did Kobe Verwimp join the Belgium senior national team?
Verwimp entered Belgium’s senior program in 2023. He was named among the libero candidates for that year’s European Golden League and later joined Belgium’s squad for the Olympic Qualification Tournament.
Did Kobe Verwimp play as an outside hitter?
Yes. Volleyball World listed Verwimp as an outside hitter at the 2023 U19 World Championship, where he scored 30 points. CEV youth records also show him in an attacking role before libero became his established senior position.
Who is Kobe Verwimp’s brother?
His younger brother, Matis Verwimp, is also a Belgian libero and plays for Lindemans Aalst.
Was anyone in Kobe Verwimp’s family an Olympian?
Yes. His grandfather Fernand Walder represented Belgium in the men’s volleyball tournament at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.
References
- Topvolley Belgium — Kobe Verwimp Red Dragons player profile
- Volley Haasrode Leuven — 2026/27 first-team roster announcement
- CEV — Kobe Verwimp club and national-team competition history
- CEV — Volley Haasrode Leuven 2025/26 European roster
- Volleyball World — Kobe Verwimp 2023 U19 World Championship player profile
- Topvolley Belgium — Kobe Verwimp named to the 2023 Red Dragons longlist as a libero
- Volleyball World — China defeat Belgium in the 2024 Volleyball Challenger Cup final
- Volleyball World — Belgium reach the 2025 Men’s World Championship quarterfinals
- Volleyball World — Kobe Verwimp VNL 2026 player profile
- CEV — Belgium reach the EuroVolley 2026 quarterfinals
- Belgian Volleyball League — 2024/25 Belgian Championship final standings
- Belgian Volleyball League — 2025/26 libero statistics
- Lotto Volley League — Kobe and Matis Verwimp: two brothers, one goal