Sport in the Netherlands

Approximately 4.5 million of the 16 million people in the Netherlands are registered to one of the 35,000 sports clubs in the country. About two thirds of the population older than 15 years participates in sports weekly. [ [http://www.ned.univie.ac.at/non/landeskunde/nl/h11/index.htm nl Sport in Nederland] ]

Association Football has the largest following, with field hockey and volleyball as the second and third most popular team sports. Tennis, gymnastics and golf are the three most widely played individual sports. [http://www.sport.nl/content/nieuwsartikelen/nocnsf/223198?channel=nocnsf nl sport.nl (Figures are from 2005)] ] [ [http://www.fitplein.nl/ideepagina/ideeen_popup.php?id=177 nl Fitplein] ] A number of native Dutch sports is also practiced, such as fierljeppen (polsstokverspringen), beugelen, kaatsen, klootschieten, kolven and korfball.

Organization of sports began at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Federations for sports were established (such as the speed skating federation in 1882), rules were unified and sports clubs came into existence. A Dutch National Olympic Committee was established in 1912. Thus far the nation has won 230 medals at the Summer Olympic Games and another 78 medals at the Winter Olympic Games.

An influential figure in Dutch sport was Pim Mulier. In 1879 he founded the first rugby and football club in the Netherlands, he was involved in forming the first tennis club in 1884, established the predecessor of the Dutch Football Association five years later, and introduced field hockey in 1896.

Team sports

Football

"See also: Football in the Netherlands"

The Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) is the largest sports federation in the country with 1,076,759 players (in 2005). The organization came into being on December 8 1899 and was one of the founding members of FIFA (the world Football Association) in 1904.

Dutch football teams won three Olympic bronze medals in 1908, 1912 and 1920. Other successes came in the 1970s, when the national team played in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cup finals, losing to the tournament's host on both occasions. In the same period, Dutch league sides Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam won European Cups from 1970 to 1973. In 1988, the national team won the only international title so far at the European Championships. PSV Eindhoven won the European Cup that year too. Ajax again won the European Cup in 1995.

Many Dutch football players have gained international fame, such as Johan Cruijff, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Dennis Bergkamp and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Rinus Michels was named "coach of the century" by FIFA in 1999.

Football stadiums Amsterdam ArenA and Feijenoord Stadion have UEFA's 5-star rating, enabling them to host finals of the UEFA Champions League and the European Championship.

Field hockey

The Royal Dutch Hockey Federation was formed on October 8 1898 and is, with 185,923 members (in 2005), the fifth largest sports federation. "Hoofdklasse hockey" is the country's primary hockey competition since 1970, which is contested by 12 clubs (in both the male and female league).

The Netherlands women's national field hockey team is the most successful team in World Cup history, having won the title six times. The Dutch male hockey team has won the world cup three times and Olympic gold on two occasions. Several Dutch hockey league clubs have won the European Cup.

Volleyball

Volleyball is the third most participated team sport in the country. Founded on September 6 1947, the Dutch Volleyball Federation is with 128,693 players (in 2005) the ninth largest sports association. The A-League is the highest division in which eight men's and women's teams compete for the national championships.

The national men's team is the most successful exponent, winning the silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the gold medal four years later in Atlanta. The biggest success of the women's national team was winning the European Championship in 1995.

Baseball

"See also: Baseball in the Netherlands"

The Royal Dutch Baseball Federation was established on March 12 1912. They merged with the softball federation to form the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation in 1971 [ [http://www.honkbalsite.com/interactief/historie.html nl honkbalsite.com] ] In 2008 there were over 24,000 players active at one of the 184 clubs in the country. [ [http://www.knbsb.nl/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=44&Itemid=157 nl knbsb.nl PDF file] ]

The Netherlands boasts the most successful national baseball team in Europe, winning the European Baseball Championship twenty times and frequently representing the continent in international competitions such as the World Baseball Classic and Baseball World Cup. There is a domestic professional baseball league whose best team, Neptunus of Rotterdam, regularly contends for the European club championship, including five consecutive titles from 2000-2004.

Baseball is especially popular in the island of Curacao, part of the Netherlands Antilles. In 2005, the Pabao Little League Champions of Willemstad advanced all the way to the championship game in the Little League World Series. Atlanta Braves outfielder, Andruw Jones is arguably the most successful and popular baseball player to emerge from Netherlands Antilles, and in 2006, was a member of the Netherlands national baseball team that participated in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Jair Jurrjens, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers became the first pitcher from Curaçao to ever pitch in the major leagues. John Houseman was the first Dutch-born player in the Major League, when he made his debut for the Chicago Colts in 1894. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2291359 sports.espn.go.com] ] Bert Blyleven was an All-Star baseball player and twice World Series champion in 1979 and 1987.

Rugby union

Rugby union is also played in the Netherlands. The first rugby club was HFC, established on September 15 1879 by the 14 year old Pim Mulier, who first encountered the sport in 1870. However HFC switched to association football in 1883. The "Delftsche Studenten Rugby Club" was the first official rugby club on September 24 1918. The Dutch Rugby Federation was founded on September 7 1920 but ceased to exist in 1923 due to a lack of clubs. They reorganized on October 1 1932, six months after the Netherlands national rugby union team played their first match against Belgium. [ [http://www.utrechtrugby.nl/?pag=30 nl utrechtrugby.nl] ] The Dutch Rugby Federation has 8,000 registered players (in 2007). [ [http://www.rugby.nl/pdf/nieuwsbrievenlustrum/OKTOBER2007.pdf nl rugby.nl PDF file] ]

Cricket

The Royal Dutch Cricket Federation was formed in 1883. [ [http://www.kb.nl/vak/deelcoll/teksten/crick.html nl kb.nl] ] . The premier division is called "Hoofdklasse cricket", in which ten teams compete for the national championships.

The Netherlands national cricket team qualified for the cricket world cup on 3 occasions; 1996, 2003 and most recently for the 2007 event held in the West Indies. The country has been considered one of the stronger "minnow" nations for some time. Although the sport is sustained by a small player base, some have won professional contracts in England. Netherlands is ranked within the top 20 teams in the world and has co-hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1999.

Individual sports

Tennis

The Royal Dutch Tennis Federation was founded on June 5 1899 and is, with 709,277 members (in 2005), the second largest sports federation in the Netherlands.

One of the most successful tennis players was Betty Stöve, who won 10 Grand Slam (Doubles) titles between 1972 and 1981. Tom Okker, nicknamed The Flying Dutchman was ranked among the world's top 10 singles players for seven consecutive years from 1968 through 1974, reaching a career high of World No. 3 in 1969. Also noticeable is Richard Krajicek, who won Wimbledon in 1996, and the Paul Haarhuis/Jacco Eltingh doubles team, which won five Grand Slam titles and two world championships. Esther Vergeer is a four-time Paralympics tennis champion.

Netherlands is home to several tennis tournaments, including The ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, one of the best visited indoor tournaments in the world.

Cycling

Royal Dutch Cycling Union was instituted on January 26 1928. Two Dutch road racing cyclist have won the Tour de France, Jan Janssen and Joop Zoetemelk, and seven have been World Champion on the road. On the track, several Olympic titles have been won, most recently by Leontien van Moorsel who won three Olympic gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Games. Erik Dekker won the 2001 Cycling World Cup and Bart Brentjens captured the gold medal for mountain biking in the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Ice skating

The Royal Dutch Skating Federation was formed on September 17 1882. [ [http://www.knsb.nl/content/algemeen/downloads/re1statuten.pdf nl knsb.nl PDF file] ] With 161,673 members they are the seventh largest sports federation (in 2005).

peed skating

After a successful period around 1900, with Jaap Eden and Coen de Koning as World Champions, Dutch speed skating successes became numerous in the 1960s. Champions Kees Verkerk and Ard Schenk were immensely popular, causing a real speed skating hype in the country. Successes continue up to today, with the likes of Yvonne van Gennip (3 Olympic gold medals in 1988), Rintje Ritsma (4-time World Champion) and Jochem Uytdehaage (2 Olympic gold mdals in 2002). Thialf Stadium in Heerenveen was the first indoor 400m speed skating oval in the world and remains a world-class facility today.

Figure skating

Sjoukje Dijkstra is the most successful Dutch figure skater, winning the World Championships three times, the European Championships five times and two Olympic medals. Her Olympic gold in 1964 in Innsbruck was the first time an athlete from the Netherlands won gold at an Olympic Winter Games. Dianne de Leeuw won the silver medal in figure skating at the 1976 Winter Olympics.

Athletics

The Royal Dutch Athletics Association came into existence on April 28 1901 and is, with 108,934 members (in 2005), the 13th largest sports federation.

Most successful competitor was Fanny Blankers-Koen, who won four gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics. In 1999, she was voted "Female Athlete of the Century" by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Other notable athletes include Nelli Cooman, Ellen van Langen, Ria Stalman, Gerard Nijboer, Maria Gommers, Puck Brouwer and Lien Gisolf.

Equestrianism

The Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation in its present form was founded after a fusion on January 1 2002. It is the sixth largest sports federation in the country, with 180,023 members in 2005. Numerous Dutch horseback riders have become world and Olympic champions in their field, including Charles Pahud de Mortanges, Anky van Grunsven, Jos Lansink and Piet Raymakers.

wimming

Formed on August 14 1888, The Royal Dutch Swimming Association has 148,599 members and is the eight largest sports federation. Famous competitors include Rie Mastenbroek, who won the gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics in the 100 m freestyle, 400 m and 4 x 100 m freestyle. Recent champions include triple Olympic gold medalist Pieter van den Hoogenband, four-time Olympic champion Inge de Bruijn, and the current world record holder of the 50 metres freestyle, Marleen Veldhuis.

Judo

The Dutch Judo Federation in its current form was instituted on September 15 1979. [ [http://www.judobondnederland.nl/judo/judohistorie.htm nl judobondnederland] ] Anton Geesink was the first non-Japanese competitor to become World Champion in Judo in 1961. Other notable judoka include Angelique Seriese, Wim Ruska, Dennis van der Geest en Mark Huizinga.

Other notable athletes

* Jan Lammers is a former Formula One driver, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Jaguar in 1988.
* Auto racing driver Arie Luyendyk is a twice winner of the Indianapolis 500.
* Rower Nico Rienks was awarded the prestigious Thomas Keller Medal by the International Rowing Federation in 2004.
* Basketball player Rik Smits was selected for the NBA All-Star Game in 1998, and helped the Indiana Pacers reach their only NBA final in 2000.

ee also

*Netherlands at the Olympics
*The Dutch Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year

References

External links

* [http://www.nlplanet.com/nlguides/topic.php?id=14 NL Planet - Sport in the Netherlands]