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.
Football
In nederland the most important sport is football. The principal league is the Erdeivisie. The big players of Nederland (Koeman, ,Seedorf ,Van Bronchkost, Van Basten, ,Cruyff, Van Der Sar, Van Nistelrooy, Sneijder ,Robben, Van Der Vaart, Huntelaar…)
The other important team are AZ Alkmaar, PSV Eindhoven, Feeyenord and Ajax.
This last team won the three great cups ( the Champions league, the Netherlands Cup and The Eredivise league) in 1972.
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.
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.
Baseball
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. In 2008 there were over 24,000 players active at one of the 184 clubs in the country.
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.
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. The Dutch Rugby Federation has 8,000 registered players (in 2007).
Tennis
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.
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.
Swimming
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.
In nederland the most important sport is football. The principal league is the Erdeivisie. The big players of Nederland (Koeman, ,Seedorf ,Van Bronchkost, Van Basten, ,Cruyff, Van Der Sar, Van Nistelrooy, Sneijder ,Robben, Van Der Vaart, Huntelaar…)
The other important team are AZ Alkmaar, PSV Eindhoven, Feeyenord and Ajax.
This last team won the three great cups ( the Champions league, the Netherlands Cup and The Eredivise league) in 1972.
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.
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.
Baseball
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. In 2008 there were over 24,000 players active at one of the 184 clubs in the country.
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.
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. The Dutch Rugby Federation has 8,000 registered players (in 2007).
Tennis
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.
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.
Swimming
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.
