The Red Dragons are enjoying a stellar run. After a convincing 1-3 victory in a sweltering Austrian sports hall, Belgium’s national men’s volleyball team secured qualification for Euro 2026 on Saturday evening – even before their final qualifying match at home in Roeselare against Azerbaijan on Wednesday. It’s the crowning achievement of a flawless campaign, having already beaten Azerbaijan 3-0 away and Austria at home.

Adding to the good news, the FIVB announced that the Red Dragons will return next year to the prestigious Volleyball Nations League. And in September, the team will head to the World Championship in the Philippines, facing Ukraine, European champions Italy, and Algeria in the group stage. A heavy schedule, but also a chance to test themselves against the very best.

One of the team’s key pillars is Wout D’heer. Standing 2.03 metres tall, the middle blocker was the second-best blocker in last season’s Italian SuperLega regular season and this summer joined powerhouse Cucine Lube Civitanova, multiple Italian and European champions. While chasing success with the Red Dragons in the Euro, the Worlds, and the VNL, the 24-year-old also faces a new chapter in Italy, full of challenges, Champions League matches, and competition from international stars.

Congrats on the Euro ticket, Wout. How do you look back on the win in Austria?
“It confirmed what we showed in the first two qualifiers last year. We started strong: 15-25, 21-25, with Ferre Reggers and Seppe Rotty really leading the attack. In set three, we slipped – our first set loss of the campaign – but bounced back and finished it in the fourth, 18-25. Austria aren’t pushovers: Paul Buchegger plays for Modena, and Alexander Berger has top-level experience in Poland and Italy. Yet we gave them little breathing space, which shows how focused we were.”

That sharpness didn’t seem there in the preparation matches against Estonia. Was that a wake-up call?
“Definitely. We lost the first match 3-1 and in the second, we let a 0-2 lead slip to 2-2. Estonia have been in the Golden League top four for years, but we expected more control. Those matches kept us grounded, and that was good: since then, everyone has brought extra intensity to training.”

How big is the relief now that qualification is secured?
“It’s calming. We knew we had to do it – it wasn’t optional. Now we can look ahead, but we have to keep the intensity from the Austria match. Against Azerbaijan, even dropping a set shouldn’t happen.”
Belgium returning to the VNL – a gift from the sky?
“It’s huge. The VNL is the ultimate national team competition, facing the best in the world. It’s key for experience and for world ranking points towards the 2028 Olympics. For me, it’s also motivating: these are the matches you look forward to.”

And the Worlds in the Philippines?
“It’ll be tough but interesting. Ukraine and Algeria are teams we can beat; Italy is on another level. But we’re not going just to learn – we want to perform and see where we stand.”

Your move to Lube Civitanova?
“It was a bit unexpected. My manager, Wout Wijsmans, told me Lube were interested, and Serbian star Podrascanin – who I played with at Trentino – spoke positively about me to the club. When someone of his calibre says that, it boosts your confidence. Lube acted fast, and I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity.”

Your season at Taranto, despite relegation?
“As a team, it was disappointing, but individually it was perhaps my best year yet. I had a lot of responsibility, played every match, and finished as the second-best blocker in the regular season. In Italy, that’s noticed. So despite relegation, it was a springboard for my career.”

You also had prior contact with Stijn D’Hulst, who played for Lube himself.
“Absolutely. Stijn told me that his time at Lube was one of the best in his career. He also confirmed many of the things I had already heard: that everything is run at the highest professional level, that players are really taken care of, that the area is a fantastic place to live, and that there’s a strong winning mentality in the club. That gave me extra confidence to make the move. If someone who’s actually been in that locker room speaks so positively about the club, you know it’s the right place to be.”

Has Lube always been a dream club for you?
“Yes. As a kid, I used to watch their Champions League finals. Back at the sports school, Lube was a club that often came up in conversations. It’s a club with history and an aura that commands respect. They’re going through a younger phase now, but they’re still chasing titles. Last year they finished runners-up, won the Coppa Italia, and are competing in the Champions League… Everything there breathes top-level volleyball.”

Competition is inevitable, and in Civitanova it will be fierce once again. How do you see that?
“Competition only makes me better. Gargiulo played a lot last season, despite Podrascanin also being there… That just shows that coach Giampaolo Medei rotates a lot. In any case, I want to prove that I can handle the level. I know I won’t be handed a starting spot, but that’s fine. At this level, you have to grab every opportunity.”

Before Taranto, you already spent three years with Trentino. How do you look back on that period?
“That was my schooling. At Trentino, I had the chance to train every day with various world-class players. I was young, had a lot to learn, but you naturally adopt the right mentality there. It was also my first real experience with Italian volleyball culture: the passion of the fans, the media attention, the importance placed on every detail.”

And how’s life in Italy off the court?
“Amazing. I love the culture, the food, the mentality. In Taranto, life outside volleyball might not always have been ideal, but now I’m going to Civitanova, which is by the sea, so that’s going to be another incredible experience. My girlfriend is coming with me as well, which makes it even more special. But I’m aware: life is beautiful, but in Italy, everything revolves around performance.”

Both with the Red Dragons and with Lube, you’ll be joining a young, ambitious group. Does that feel like a conscious choice?
“Absolutely. I feel great in a group that’s hungry. Young players want to prove themselves and are willing to work hard every single day. That also motivates me to give my all in every training. With the Dragons, I thought after last summer we couldn’t get any younger, but… We have a generation that will hit its peak in a few years, but can already surprise now. And it’s the same at Lube: lots of young energy, but still the ambition to win titles. That combination makes it challenging and fun.”

What does that mean for your personal path, both at club level and with the national team?
“With the Dragons, we’ve proven that we’re already making progress, but I think our best volleyball is still ahead of us. That applies to me as well. I want to keep growing, and that’s only possible in environments where the bar is set high. That’s the case in Italy, and that’s the case with the national team.”

If we look a year ahead: what dreams and goals do you see for yourself?
“Playing a strong World Championship with the Dragons and having a good debut year with Lube – those are the first goals. Maybe even competing for prizes in Italy and the Champions League. And with the national team: building stability, making progress in the VNL, and working towards something big at a major tournament. Ultimately, I dream – like every top athlete – of the Olympic Games, and 2028 doesn’t seem that far away anymore. But the most important thing is that we keep getting better every year. If we manage that, I know those big moments will eventually come.”

Text: Kenny Hennens
Photos: archive/Wout D’heer