The Netherlands women's national field hockey team is not just a team; it's a dynasty. With a legacy steeped in excellence, they have been a dominant force since the 1970s. They are currently ranked number one by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). This team has won the World Cup a record nine times, more than any other country.
The origins of the team lie within the Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond (KNHB), the national governing body founded in 1898. Women's participation began shortly thereafter, with the establishment of the first dedicated women's club, Ladies Hockey Club Red White, in Haarlem in 1899, followed by another in The Hague in 1900.
Following World War II, women's field hockey underwent formalized expansion, benefiting from increased societal emphasis on women's sports and integration into the KNHB's broader structure. The first national team selections occurred in the early 1960s, marking the transition from domestic club play to structured international representation.
The squad began competing in early friendlies against neighboring nations, including a 5-0 victory over West Germany in 1960 and matches against Belgium in the same decade.
Netherlands beat Germany to win gold in Men’s Hockey 🏑🥇 | Paris 2024 Highlights
Olympic Glory: A Legacy of Gold
The Netherlands women's hockey team has a fantastic history of winning major tournaments. The team has won many medals at the Olympic Games. The Dutch team has won the Women's Hockey World Cup nine times! They have also finished second four times and third once.
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Over the history of the Olympic Games a number of teams have reached such heights that they can only be described as incredible. Only a handful of teams in global sport have been as dominant as the Dutch women’s hockey team. When it comes to the Olympic Games, the Dutch women have won three golds (1984, 2008, 2012), two silvers (2004, 2016) and three bronze medals (1988, 1996, 2000).
The Netherlands women's national field hockey team achieved its first Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, defeating West Germany 3-1 in the final to secure the inaugural women's hockey title at the Olympics. In China, the Dutch women’s hockey team began yet another decade of domination at the Olympic Games, smashing all opponents in a virtuoso performance on the world’s grandest sporting stage. During the group stage, Netherlands won all five games, scoring 14 goals while conceding just three.
Four years later at the 2012 London Olympics, the team arrived as defending champions and were determined to keep their Olympic crown. The Netherlands made it to the final courtesy of a penalty shootout win over New Zealand to set up a final with arch-rivals Argentina after losing to them at the 2010 World Cup two years prior. The Dutch team couldn’t complete a hat-trick of gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics despite reaching the final in Brazil, settling for a silver medal after a heart-breaking loss in the final.
They have now won four of the last five Olympic gold medals on offer, an astonishing record from one of the most dominant sporting teams the world has ever seen. That silver medal proved to be just a blip though, as 4 years later, Netherlands were back on the top step of the podium, winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, winning all 8 games, relying on their defence as much as their offence, which conceded just 4 goals throughout the competition!
The Netherlands women's national field hockey team has achieved unparalleled success in major international competitions, securing 5 Olympic gold medals in 1984, 2008, 2012, 2020, and 2024.
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Field hockey players in action.
World Cup Dominance
The team's entry into major international tournaments came in the 1970s, a period of rapid ascent. At the inaugural FIH Hockey World Cup in 1974, held in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, France, the Netherlands claimed gold, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final and establishing themselves as a global force. This success was followed by silver at the 1976 FIH Hockey World Cup in West Berlin, where they lost 1-0 to host West Germany in the final after a strong tournament run.
Building on early momentum, the team dominated the FIH Hockey World Cup, winning four titles in 1978 (Argentina), 1983 (Malaysia), 1986 (Netherlands), and 1990 (Sydney), amassing four titles in 12 years and establishing themselves as the sport's preeminent force. The early years (70s and 80s) saw the likes of Toos Bax, Suzan Bekker, Sophie von Weiler and Fieke Boekhorst rise through the ranks and become the best players in the world.
The Netherlands have been the most dominant force in women’s hockey since the 1970s and they proved to be a class apart at the inaugural 1974 Word Cup in France, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final. After winning the World Cup in 1990, the Netherlands team had a poor run at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, finishing sixth. Lammers led his team to a World Cup win in 2006 and they went into the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the favourites to win gold.
They hold the record for the most Women's FIH Hockey World Cup titles with 9 victories in 1974, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1990, 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022. The team has also dominated the Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship, winning it 12 times!
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Here's a summary of their World Cup achievements:
| Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Mandelieu, France | Gold (def. Argentina 1-0) |
| 1976 | West Berlin, West Germany | Bronze |
| 1978 | Madrid, Spain | Gold (def. West Germany) |
| 1981 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Silver (lost to West Germany) |
| 1983 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Gold (def. Canada) |
| 1986 | Amstelveen, Netherlands | Gold (def. West Germany) |
| 1990 | Sydney, Australia | Gold (def. Australia) |
| 1994 | Dublin, Ireland | 5th place |
| 1998 | Utrecht, Netherlands | Silver (lost to Australia) |
| 2002 | Perth, Australia | Silver (lost to Argentina) |
| 2006 | Madrid, Spain | Gold (def. Australia) |
| 2010 | Rosario, Argentina | Silver (lost to Argentina) |
| 2014 | The Hague, Netherlands | Gold (def. Australia) |
| 2018 | London, England | Gold (def. Ireland 6-0) |
| 2022 | Terrassa (Spain) / Amstelveen (Netherlands) | Gold (def. Argentina) |
EuroHockey Nations Championship
In Europe, the Dutch secured the EuroHockey Nations Championship in 1984 (Lille), 1987 (London), 1995 (Amstelveen), and 1999 (Cologne), often overcoming fierce competition from rivals like Germany in high-stakes finals and semifinals that highlighted the intense continental rivalry between the two powerhouses.
In European competitions, the team has dominated the EuroHockey Nations Championship, winning a record 13 titles, including five consecutive triumphs from 2015 to 2025.
Recent Performance
The team's dominance is exemplified by extraordinary win streaks and performance metrics. Since 2013, they have maintained an 85.7% win rate across 265 matches, suffering only 12 losses and 26 draws while scoring 580 field goals, 325 penalty corner goals, and 42 penalty stroke goals.
The Netherlands Women's Hockey Team celebrates their victory at the 2022 World Cup.
Key Players and Coaching Staff
The squad is led by captain Pien Sanders, a defender with extensive experience. Goalkeepers are Anne Veenendaal and Josine Koning. Defenders include Lisa Post, Xan de Waard, Renee van Laarhoven, Sanne Koolen, and Marleen Jochems. Midfielders feature Yibbi Jansen, Joosje Burg, and Freeke Moes.
The current head coach of the Netherlands women's national field hockey team is Raoul Ehren, who was appointed in September 2024 following the Paris Olympics. Supporting Ehren is a recently assembled staff, including assistant coach Robert Tigges, who joined in mid-May 2025 after serving in various roles with the Dutch men's program and international assignments.
The Netherlands women's national field hockey team has produced several all-time greats whose contributions spanned multiple eras and major tournament successes. Naomi van As, a versatile forward and midfielder, debuted internationally in 2003 and earned over 160 caps, contributing to Olympic golds in 2008 and 2012, the 2006 and 2014 FIH Hockey World Cups, and the 2007 FIH Hockey Champions Trophy.
The Netherlands women's national field hockey team has seen several players achieve remarkable individual milestones in terms of appearances and scoring. The country's domination of women’s hockey in 21st century is reflected in the list of FIH Women’s Player of the Year Award winners, which has been won by a member of the Dutch team 10 times (level with Argentina). Dutch players have dominated individual accolades, winning the FIH Player of the Year award a total of 13 times as of 2024.
Key milestones include Paumen becoming one of the earliest Dutch players to reach 100 international goals in 2011 and scoring 19 Olympic goals overall, a record for women's field hockey.
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