Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to the Netherlands, or Holland as it is sometimes known. The Kingdom of The Netherlands is made up of the countries of the Netherlands, Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten. The Dutch people love to play and watch sports. The most popular sport in the Netherlands is football (soccer), though a large range of sports are played and watched.

the Netherlands hockey team at the London 2012 Olympics

The Netherlands hockey team at the London 2012 Olympics

Dutch Sports Culture

Through the influence of western culture, the Netherlands became known for its love of sports. There are various types of competitive sports that one can see in this country, but there are two popular sports that people love to both play and watch. These sports are football and field hockey.

Football became popular mainly due to the influence of western culture, since their sports organization began in the early 19th and 20th century, football's popularity also grew alongside it. The largest football federation in the Netherlands is the Royal Dutch Football Association, and they became a member of FIFA in 1904. Their national football team has competed in the Olympic Games many times and has brought home some medals and pride numerous times.

"The Netherlands has developed one of the most comprehensive sports cultures in Europe. Their systematic approach to athlete development, combined with excellent facilities and strong sports federations, has made them consistently competitive across multiple disciplines from field hockey to speed skating."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports

Field Hockey Excellence

Field hockey is the second most popular sport in the Netherlands. Their national women's team became one of the most successful teams in World Cup history, and their male counterparts won the World Cup three times, and they brought home quite a number of gold medals.

"Dutch field hockey represents the gold standard in the sport. With three men's World Cup victories and consistent Champions Trophy success, the Netherlands has built a hockey program that other nations study and attempt to replicate. Their women's team has been equally dominant on the world stage."
— Robert J. Wood's research at Topend Sports

Volleyball and basketball are also popular in the Netherlands and because of those sports the country has been quite successful in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games as well as other international competitions.

Popular Sports of The Netherlands

See more about popular sports in the Netherlands.

Traditional or Regional Sports

  • Korfball — a mixed-gender ball sport which is similar to netball and basketball, developed in The Netherlands.
  • Fierljeppen (Polsstokverspringen) — contestants, using a long pole, vault across a canal. Also called Canal Jumping.
  • Kaatsen (Frisian Handball) — a traditional sport from the Netherlands in which players attempt to land a ball at the end of a long rectangular field.
  • Klootschieten — German sport in which participants throw a ball as far as they can.
  • Kolf / Kolven — an indoor sport from the Netherlands, the aim is to get a ball as close to a pole as possible with rings marked on the ground around the target used to determine the score.
  • Beugelen — a very old ball sport, a little like croquet.

Did You Know?

Korfball was invented in the Netherlands in the early 1900s and is one of the few mixed-gender team sports in the world. It remains popular in the Netherlands and is played internationally.

Learn More About Korfball →

The Netherlands Sporting Success

  • Champion's Trophy (field hockey) winners - 1981, 1982, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006
  • The Netherlands Men Hockey Team has won the Field Hockey World Cup thrice - 1973, 1990, 1998
  • The Netherlands won the UEFA European Championship title in 1988
  • The Netherlands won 34 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics (15 gold, 7 silver, 12 bronze)
  • The Netherlands won 36 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (10 gold, 12 silver, 14 bronze)
  • The Netherlands won 19 medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics (8 gold, 7 silver, 4 bronze)

Netherlands Recent Summer Olympic Medal History

Olympic Games Gold Silver Bronze Total
Rio 2016 8 7 4 19
Tokyo 2020 10 12 14 36
Paris 2024 15 7 12 34

The Netherlands also dominates Winter Olympics speed skating events

"What makes Dutch Olympic performance remarkable is their dominance in specific sports. At Sochi 2014, Dutch speed skaters won 23 of the 36 medals available - an unprecedented sweep that showcased their mastery of the ice. This success stems from a culture where skating is as natural as walking."
— According to sports science expert Robert Wood, who has analyzed Olympic performance data for over 25 years

Olympic Legacy

The 1928 Amsterdam Olympics was the first Games where the Olympic Flame was lit. This tradition continues today at every Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Explore 1928 Amsterdam Olympics →

Great Athletes from The Netherlands

  • Francina "Fanny" Blankers-Koen — winner of four gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics.
  • Pieter van den Hoogenband - three Olympic golds in swimming.
  • Johan Cruyff - possibly Holland's greatest ever footballer.
  • Sven Kramer - long track speed skater.
  • Max Verstappen - F1 driver.

Ice Masters

At the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, Dutch speed skaters achieved an unprecedented feat by winning 23 of the 36 available medals in speed skating events.

View Winter Olympics Record →

The Netherlands Sports Trivia

  • The sport of Korfball was developed in the Netherlands in the early 1900s.
  • The Dutch hold the record for playing the most FIFA World Cup finals without ever winning the tournament (3 times).
  • The Amsterdam Olympic Games in 1928 was the first where the Olympic Flame was introduced.
  • At the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, the Dutch dominated the Speed Skating competition, winning 23 of the 36 medals awarded.

The Netherlands at Major Events

Past Sporting Events Hosted in The Netherlands

Upcoming Sporting Events in The Netherlands

Annual Sporting Events Held in The Netherlands

  • Nijmegen Four Days Marches - the biggest walking event in the world and also the biggest sports event in the Netherlands.
  • The Dutch Cup - This is a professional tennis tournament, which is held in the Netherlands.
  • The Dutch Open Air Festival - This is an annual music festival, which is held in the Netherlands.
  • The Amsterdam Marathon - This is one of the largest marathon events in the world, which is held in Amsterdam.

Sporting Facilities in The Netherlands

Other

  • Kingdom Games — a multi-sport event held every two years between the youth of the countries that are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.