Netherlands at the Olympics
The Netherlands has competed in the Olympics since 1900, taking part in almost every Games since then. They did not participate in the 1904 Summer Games, and they boycott the main events of the 1956 Melbourne Games in protest of the Soviet invasion of Hungary (though one Dutch rider still competed in equestrian events held earlier in Stockholm).
The first Summer Games gold for the Netherlands came in 1920 (Maurice Peeters, cycling, men’s 1000 metres). The first Winter Games gold followed in 1964 (Sjoukje Dijkstra, ladies’ figure skating). Before 1992 the country was often called Holland (code HOL); since 1992 it has used the name the Netherlands and the code NED.
The Netherlands has won many Olympic medals: 163 gold, 161 silver, and 179 bronze at the Summer Games (503 total). In the Winter Games they have won 147 medals, many in speed skating. The country also won six medals in the Olympic art competitions (held in 1924, 1928, and 1932).
Netherlands hosted the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. They bid to host the 1992 Games but withdrew early; they also showed interest in hosting the 2028 Games, but Los Angeles was chosen.
After the Netherlands Antilles dissolved in 2010, its Olympic committee lost IOC recognition in 2011. Aruba separated in 1986 and has competed independently since 1988. In the 2012 London Games, athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles could compete for the Netherlands or as independents; three chose to compete under the Olympic flag, while others, such as Churandy Martina, joined the Netherlands.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 07:10 (CET).