The Netherlands first sent athletes to the Olympic Games in 1900, and has participated in almost all Games since then, except for the 1904 Games in St. Louis, which were attended by only a handful of countries due to travel difficulties and limited international participation. Netherlands boycotted the main events of the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, joining several other nations in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Hungary, due to the Hungarian Uprising. However, one Dutch rider did take part in the equestrian events, which were held earlier that year in Stockholm, Sweden, due to Australian quarantine laws.
The first individual gold medal at the Summer Games was earned by Maurice Peeters in cycling at the 1920 Summer Olympics, in the men's 1000 metres sprint event. The first gold medal at the Winter Games was earned by Sjoukje Dijkstra in ladies' figure skating at the 1964 Winter Olympics.
Prior to the 1992 Olympics, the country name was "Holland" with the country code of "HOL". From 1992 onward, they have utilized the "Netherlands" and "NED", as an abbreviation of the Dutch name Nederland.
Dutch athletes have won 357 medals at the Summer Olympic Games, with swimming and cycling as the top medal-producing sports. The nation has won another 167 medals at the Winter Olympic Games, of which 146 have come from speed skating.
In addition to its sporting achievements, Netherlands have won medals in one of the three discontinued Olympic non-sport competitions. The country won a total of six medals—2 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze—in the art competitions held during 1924, 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympics. These events were once part of the official Olympic program in the early 20th century, between 1912 and 1948.
Hosted Games Games Host city Dates Nations Participants Events1928 Summer Olympics Amsterdam 28 July – 12 August 46 2,883 109 The Netherlands hosted the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. The Netherlands submitted a bid to host the 1992 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, but dropped out after the first selection round when the Dutch bid received only five out of 85 votes cast. The Netherlands had expressed interest in hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics in either Amsterdam or Rotterdam, as a centennial celebration of the 1928 Games. Eventually, no bid came from either city and the Olympics were awarded to Los Angeles.
Thialf in Heerenveen will host long track speed skating at the 2030 Winter Olympics which is being held in the French Alps.
Overview of Olympic participation
Timeline of participation
Olympic Year/s Teams 1900–1952 W 1952 S 1956 1960–1984 1988–2008 2012 as part of / 2014–present
Following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010—a former constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands—the Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee (NAOC) lost its Olympic recognition in July 2011. The NAOC had been established in 1931 and was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1950 until its removal in 2011. The Netherlands Antilles competed in the Olympic Games from 1952 to 2008. In 1986, Aruba separated from the Netherlands Antilles to become a distinct constituent country within the Kingdom. From 1952 to 1984, Aruban athletes competed under the Netherlands Antilles, but since 1988, Aruba has participated independently at every Summer Olympics.
After the 2010 dissolution, the five islands of the former Netherlands Antilles underwent different constitutional changes: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba became special municipalities of the Netherlands, while Curaçao and Sint Maarten became separate constituent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Due to the loss of the NAOC's recognition, athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles were given several options for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. They could: compete as Independent Olympic Athletes under the IOC flag, represent the Netherlands, or represent Aruba, provided they met eligibility requirements.
Ultimately, three athletes chose to compete as independents under the Olympic flag. Others, such as Churandy Martina, opted to represent the Netherlands. All athletes retained Dutch nationality, allowing them to select their affiliation. Although some athletes expressed interest early on in representing either Aruba, which has a semi-independent status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, or the Netherlands, those without an official national committee by 2012 were permitted to compete independently for that edition of the Games.
Medals by Summer Games
Notes Art competitions (1912–1948) are not included in the medal table above, as they were non-sports events formerly part of the Olympic Games. Netherlands won a total of six art competition medals (2 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze), across the 1924, 1928, and 1932 Summer Olympics. At the 1900 Summer Olympics, an "unknown French boy" is recorded to have participated as the coxswain for the gold-winning mixed team (which was the Dutch team prior to his joining) in the men's coxed pair rowing competition.Believed to possibly be the youngest Olympic medalist in history, the identity of the boy remains to this day unknown. Despite being referred to as the "unknown French boy" in Olympic archives, his nationality is not known with certainty. The gold medal is attributed to the Netherlands.
Medals by Winter Games
Medals by summer sport
Medals by winter sport
List of medalists Summer Olympics MedalNameGamesSportEvent Rowing Men's Coxed pair Sailing 3 to 10 ton (Race 1) Coenraad HiebendaalGeert LotsijPaul LotsijJohannes TerwogtHermanus Brockmann Rowing Men's coxed four François BrandtJohannes van DijkRoelof KleinRuurd LeegstraWalter MiddelbergHendrik OfferhausWalter ThijssenHenricus TrompHermanus Brockmann Men's eight Johannes Drost Swimming Men's 200m backstroke Solko van den BerghAntonius BouwensDirk Boest GipsHenrik SillemAnthony Sweijs Shooting Men's 50m free pistol, team Football Men's team competition Hermannus HöfteAlbertus WielsmaJohan BurkBernardus Croon Rowing Men's coxless four Willem van BlijenburghAdrianus de JongJetze DoormanHendrik de IonghGeorge van RossemDirk Scalongne Fencing Men's team sabre Willem van BlijenburghAdrianus de JongJetze DoormanLeonardus NardusGeorge van Rossem Men's team épée Football Men's team competition Piet de BrouwerJoep PackbiersJanus TheeuwesDriekske van BrusselJo van GastelTiest van GestelJanus van MerrienboerTheo Willems Archery Team moving bird, 28m Maurice Peeters Cycling (Track) Men's sprint Cornelis HinJohan HinFrans Hin Sailing 12' Dinghy Johan CarpBernard CarpPetrus Wernink 6.5 Metre Arnoud van der BiesenPetrus Beukers 12' Dinghy Wilhelmus BekkersJohannes HengeveldSytse JansmaHenk JanssenAntonius van LoonWillem van LoonMarinus van RekumWillem van Rekum Tug of war Men's team Piet Ikelaar Cycling (Track) Men's 50km Piet IkelaarFrans de Vreng Men's tandem Adrianus de Jong Fencing Men's sabre Willem van BlijenburghAdrianus de JongJetze DoormanLouis DelaunoySalomon ZeldenrustJan van der WielHenri Wijnoldy-Daniëls Fencing Men's team sabre Football Men's team competition Ko Willems Cycling (Track) Men's 50km Adolph van der Voort van Zijp Equestrian Individual eventing Adolph van der Voort van ZijpCharles Pahud de MortangesGerard de KruijffAntonius Colenbrander Equestrian (eventing) Team eventing Teun BeijnenWilly Rösingh Rowing Men's coxless pair Jacob Meijer Cycling (Track) Men's sprint Jaap BootJan de VriesHarry BroosRinus van den Berge Athletics Men's 4 × 100 m relay Gerard Bosch van DrakesteinMaurice Peeters Cycling (Track) Men's tandem Hendrik ScherpenhuijzenAdrianus de JongJetze DoormanMaarten van DulmHenri Wijnoldy-DaniëlsJan van der Wiel Fencing Men's team sabre Kea BoumanHenk Timmer Tennis Mixed doubles Johan CarpAnthonij GuépinJan Vreede Sailing 6 metre class Bep van Klaveren Boxing Featherweight Bernhard LeeneDaan van Dijk Cycling (Track) Men's tandem Charles Pahud de Mortanges Equestrian (eventing) Eventing (individual) Charles Pahud de MortangesGerard de KruijffAdolph van der Voort van Zijp Eventing (team) Gymnastics Women's team Marie Braun Swimming Women's 100m backstroke Lien Gisolf Athletics Women's high jump Gerard Bosch van Drakestein Cycling (Track) Men's track time trial Antoine Mazairac Men's sprint Johannes MaasJan PijnenburgJanus BraspennincxPiet van der Horst Cycling (Track) Men's team pursuit Gerard de Kruijff Equestrian (eventing) Eventing (individual) Field hockey Men's team competition Johannes van HoolwerffLambertus DoedesHendrik KerskenGerard de Vries LentschCornelis van StaverenMaarten de Wit Sailing 8 metre class Marie Braun Swimming Women's 400m freestyle Mietje Baron Women's 200m breaststroke Karel Miljon Boxing Light heavyweight Jan van ReedePierre VersteeghGerard le Heux Equestrian Team dressage Guus Scheffer Weightlifting Middleweight (-75kg) Jan Verheijen Light heavyweight (-82.5kg) Jacques van Egmond Cycling (Track) Men's sprint Charles Pahud de Mortanges Equestrian (eventing) Eventing (individual) Jacques van Egmond Cycling (Track) Men's 1000m time trial Charles Pahud de MortangesAernout van LennepKarel Schummelketel Equestrian (eventing) Eventing (team) Willy den Ouden Swimming Women's 100m freestyle Corrie LaddéWilly den OudenPuck OverslootMaria Vierdag Women's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay Adriaan Maas Sailing Snowbird Arie van Vliet Cycling (Track) Men's 1.000m Time Trial Rie Mastenbroek Swimming Women's 100m freestyle Women's 400m freestyle Nida Senff Women's 100m backstroke Willy den OudenRie MastenbroekJopie SelbachTini Wagner Women's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay Daan Kagchelland Sailing Men's Monotype Class Arie van Vliet Cycling (Track) Men's 1.000m Sprint (Scratch) Bernhard LeeneHendrik Ooms Men's 2.000m Tandem Jan de BruineJohan GreterHenri van Schaik Equestrian Jumping Team Rie Mastenbroek Swimming Women's 100m backstroke Tinus Osendarp Athletics Men's 100 metres Men's 200 metres Jaap Kraaier Canoeing Men's K1 1.000m Kayak Singles Nico TatesWim van der Kroft Men's K2 1.000m Kayak Pairs Kees WijdekopPiet Wijdekop Men's F2 10.000m Folding Kayak Pairs Field hockey Men's team competition Willem de Vries LentschBob Maas Sailing Men's Star Fanny Blankers-Koen Athletics Women's 100m Women's 200m Women's 80m hurdles Fanny Blankers-KoenXenia Stad-de JongGerda van der Kade-KoudijsNettie Witziers-Timmer Women's 4 × 100 m relay Nel van Vliet Swimming Women's 200m breaststroke Gerrit Voorting Cycling (Road) Men's individual road race Lida van der Anker-Doedens Canoeing Women's K-1 500m kayak singles Wim Slijkhuis Athletics Men's 1500m Men's 5000m Marie-Louise Linssen-Vaessen Swimming Women's 100m freestyle Irma Heijting-SchuhmacherMarie-Louise Linssen-VaessenHannie TermeulenMargot Marsman Women's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay Koos de Jong Sailing Men's Firefly Class Bob MaasEdward Stutterheim Men's Star Field hockey Men's team competition