The small nation between Belgium and Germany has put up big field hockey results for nearly a century, and the sport holds a significant place in its culture. Field hockey trails only soccer in interest in the Netherlands. The Dutch men's and women's national teams have enjoyed major success in international field hockey tournaments. The men's team has won 3 world championships and three times Olympic gold. They won their first Olympic medal, a silver, in 1928 in Amsterdam. The women's team is ranked No. 1 in the world.
In 2008, the nation with about 16 million people at the time, in an area roughly half the size of Indiana, played for the Olympic gold medal in women's field hockey. Its opponent was the host nation, China, which boasted a population of about 1.3 billion. One would never have guessed those numbers, judging by the crowd, which was largely filled with orange, the standout color on the Netherlands' uniforms. The Dutch won, and Beijing seemed more like Amsterdam, Rotterdam or The Hague.
"There was orange everywhere," said Max Caldas, an assistant coach for that team who now is the men's head coach. "We are very proud about our colors and very proud to represent the country."
The women's team is seeking its third consecutive Olympic gold medal. It has won the World Cup a record seven times, with the first title coming in the inaugural event in 1974. No other nation has won more than twice.
Several factors have helped the nation overcome its small population. The Netherlands, among the world's wealthiest nations per capita, has committed significant resources to the advancement of the game, starting at the youth level. Australia men's coach Graham Reid remembers playing in the Netherlands, back when there were about 40 artificial surfaces in the country, a huge number at the time. Now, the nation's hockey federation said the country has 880 artificial surfaces - a massive number for such a small nation, and important because of the way the sport beats up grass fields.
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"There's a lot of money in the sport over there, which allows them to develop training programs, to develop things that help develop players and the player base, participation numbers," Reid said.
The way the teams play grab attention, too. Their aggressive style of play influenced the "total football" style the Dutch soccer team used to finish second at the 1974 men's World Cup. In total football, versatile players seamlessly switch positions, allowing the team to maintain its organizational structure.
The nation's men's and women's sides are known for successful penalty corners and well-placed passes. For example, in the 2008 Olympics, Maartje Paumen led the women's tournament with 11 goals, all on penalty corners. No other player scored more than five goals in the tournament.
Reid used "fanatical, almost" to describe the way the nation develops technical skills.
"Dutch hockey are trailblazers in the way they play," said Caldas, who coached the Netherlands women to gold in 2012. "Always had very creative players. We always had a great penalty corners, best in the world for men and the women. That's a part of our DNA."
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Four former women's International Hockey Federation (FIH) players of the year - Naomi van As (2009), Paumen (2011, 2012), Ellen Hoog (2014) and Lidewij Welten (2015) - are on the current roster for a nation that has had six different winners. Even with the individual success, the team's rich tradition keeps the stars focused on the big picture.
"Each player has a different ability," Netherlands women's coach Alyson Annan said. "Each player can do something that some girls can't. They learn and identify and share with each other, and when someone is weaker at something than another, they fill the gaps for each other."
On the men's side, Robert van der Horst was the FIH player of the year last year.
Key Achievements of Dutch Field Hockey Teams:
- Men's Team:
- Olympic Gold Medals: 3
- World Championships: 3
- Women's Team:
- World Cup Titles: 7
- Ranked No. 1 in the world
Notable Players:
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- Maartje Paumen
- Naomi van As
- Ellen Hoog
- Lidewij Welten
- Robert van der Horst
Factors Contributing to Success:
- Significant investment in the sport at the youth level
- Large number of artificial playing surfaces
- Aggressive and innovative playing style
'Our objective is to grow as a team' | Dave Smolenaars | Netherlands | #RisingStars
Table: Key Achievements of Dutch Field Hockey Teams
| Team | Olympic Gold Medals | World Championships/World Cup Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Men's Team | 3 | 3 |
| Women's Team | Seeking third consecutive | 7 |
The Netherlands continues to be a powerhouse in the world of field hockey, driven by a strong culture, dedicated players, and significant investment in the sport.
