Soccer leads the Netherlands with 1,240,000 NOC*NSF federation memberships in 2024, ahead of Angling and Tennis. Ranking of 20 sports.
This page ranks the sports of the Netherlands by one number that is collected the same way for all of them: The number of memberships held with each sport federation affiliated with NOC*NSF, the Dutch umbrella sports body, taken from one table that counts every federation the same way in the same reporting year. One person can hold more than one membership, so the figures count memberships and not people. The figures come from NOC*NSF, Zo Sport Nederland 2024, Bijlage 1: Lidmaatschappen sportbonden totaal.
Soccer is on top, followed by Angling and Tennis. The full table below covers 20 sports, and every section further down names the source for the figure it uses.
The Most Popular Sports in the Netherlands
The table counts NOC*NSF federation memberships, not people who say they like a sport. It is the figure that is published the same way for every sport in the list, which is what makes the rows comparable. The reference year is 2024.
| # | Sport | NOC*NSF federation memberships | Governing body |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soccer | 1,240,000 | Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) |
| 2 | Angling | 739,000 | Sportvisserij Nederland (Dutch Federation of Angling Sport) |
| 3 | Tennis | 666,000 | Royal Dutch Lawn Tennis Association (KNLTB) |
| 4 | Golf | 447,000 | Dutch Golf Federation (NGF) |
| 5 | Gymnastics | 263,000 | Royal Dutch Gymnastics Union (KNGU) |
| 6 | Field hockey | 256,000 | Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB) |
| 7 | Equestrian sport | 122,000 | Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) |
| 8 | Athletics | 120,000 | Royal Dutch Athletics Union (Atletiekunie) |
| 9 | Swimming | 119,000 | Royal Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB) |
| 10 | Volleyball | 105,000 | Dutch Volleyball Federation (Nevobo) |
| 11 | Bridge | 84,000 | Dutch Bridge Federation (Nederlandse Bridge Bond) |
| 12 | Korfball | 81,000 | Royal Dutch Korfball Association (KNKV) |
| 13 | Climbing and mountaineering | 76,000 | Royal Dutch Alpine Club (NKBV) |
| 14 | Sailing and watersports | 71,000 | Royal Dutch Watersports Association (Watersportverbond) |
| 15 | Basketball | 62,000 | Dutch Basketball Federation (Nederlandse Basketball Bond) |
| 16 | Handball | 52,000 | Dutch Handball Federation (NHV) |
| 17 | Skiing | 51,000 | Dutch Ski Federation (Nederlandse Ski Vereniging) |
| 18 | Speed skating | 45,000 | Royal Dutch Skating Federation (KNSB) |
| 19 | Rowing | 44,000 | Royal Dutch Rowing Federation (KNRB) |
| 20 | Judo | 43,000 | Judo Federation Netherlands (JBN) |
One caveat applies to every ranking of this kind: someone who plays two sports is counted twice, once in each federation, and sports people mostly do on their own, such as running or hiking, barely show up at all.
Most Played and Most Watched Are Not the Same Sport
Membership and license numbers tell you what people do. Audience figures tell you what they watch, and the two lists rarely have the same sport on top.
| Sport | Figure | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Football (Eredivisie) | 19,578 | The Eredivisie averaged close to 19,600 spectators per match in the 2025/26 season. |
| Formula 1 (Dutch Grand Prix) | 305,000 | The 2025 Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Circuit Zandvoort drew a total attendance of 305,000. |
Is There a National Sport of the Netherlands?
the Netherlands has no national sport laid down by law or by government decision. No Dutch law or government decree designates an official national sport.
- Football. Football is widely regarded as the de facto national sport because its federation is by far the largest sports organization in the country.
Sports That Were Invented in the Netherlands
- Korfball. Korfball was developed in Amsterdam in 1902 by Dutch schoolteacher Nico Broekhuysen.
#1 Soccer
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 1,240,000 (Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), 2024)
- Top national league: Eredivisie
- Best known athlete: Virgil van Dijk. Captain of the Dutch national team and Liverpool defender who finished runner-up for the 2019 Ballon d’Or after winning the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool that year
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) is the largest sports federation in the Netherlands. NOC*NSF, the national umbrella body for Dutch sport, counted 1,240,000 KNVB members in its 2024 membership table, up from 1,218,000 in 2023.
The country’s top professional league is the Eredivisie. Dutch football has also produced internationally recognized players, among them national team captain Virgil van Dijk, who finished runner-up for the 2019 Ballon d’Or after helping Liverpool win the Champions League that year.
Latest Posts about Soccer
#2 Angling
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 739,000 (Sportvisserij Nederland (Dutch Federation of Angling Sport), 2024)
Angling is organized nationally through Sportvisserij Nederland. NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table lists 739,000 members for the federation, up from 723,000 in 2023, making it the second largest federation in the country by that measure.
Competitive and recreational angling in the Netherlands is organized mainly through regional angling clubs affiliated with Sportvisserij Nederland rather than through a professional league system.
#3 Tennis
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 666,000 (Royal Dutch Lawn Tennis Association (KNLTB), 2024)
- Best known athlete: Richard Krajicek. Winner of the 1996 Wimbledon singles title and, according to tennis365.com, still the only Dutch man to have won a Grand Slam singles title
The Royal Dutch Lawn Tennis Association (KNLTB) had 666,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, up from 649,000 the year before, placing tennis third among Dutch sport federations by member count.
Richard Krajicek remains the sport’s best known Dutch competitor. He won the 1996 Wimbledon title, a feat that according to tennis365.com no other Dutch man has matched in a Grand Slam singles event.
Latest Posts about Tennis
#4 Golf
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 447,000 (Dutch Golf Federation (NGF), 2024)
- Best known athlete: Joost Luiten. According to golf.nl, he holds six professional wins on the European Tour, making him the most successful player in Dutch golf history
The Dutch Golf Federation (NGF) counted 447,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 table, an increase from 430,000 in 2023. The federation’s membership is organized through its affiliated golf clubs across the country.
Joost Luiten is described by golf.nl as the most successful player in Dutch golf history, with six professional wins recorded on the European Tour.
Latest Posts about Golf
#5 Gymnastics
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 263,000 (Royal Dutch Gymnastics Union (KNGU), 2024)
The Royal Dutch Gymnastics Union (KNGU) had 263,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, up from 256,000 in 2023, making gymnastics the fifth largest Dutch sport federation by that count.
The KNGU governs competitive gymnastics disciplines nationwide, including artistic and rhythmic gymnastics and trampolining, through its affiliated clubs.
Latest Posts about Gymnastics
#6 Field hockey
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 256,000 (Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB), 2024)
- Top national league: Hoofdklasse Hockey
- Best known athlete: Maartje Paumen. According to The Hockey Paper, she won two Olympic titles and 12 trophies overall with the Dutch national field hockey team during her career
The Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB) had 256,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, slightly down from 261,000 in 2023. Field hockey is organized nationally with the Hoofdklasse as its top domestic competition.
Maartje Paumen is one of the sport’s most decorated Dutch players. The Hockey Paper credits her with two Olympic titles and 12 trophies overall during her career with the Dutch national team.
Latest Posts about Field Hockey
#7 Equestrian sport
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 122,000 (Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS), 2024)
- Best known athlete: Anky van Grunsven. According to eurodressage.com, she won her third consecutive individual Olympic dressage title in 2008, following her wins in 2000 and 2004
The Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) had 122,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, down from 132,000 in 2023.
Dressage rider Anky van Grunsven remains the sport’s best known Dutch competitor. She won her third consecutive individual Olympic dressage title in 2008, after earlier victories in 2000 and 2004.
#8 Athletics
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 120,000 (Royal Dutch Athletics Union (Atletiekunie), 2024)
The Royal Dutch Athletics Union (Atletiekunie) had 120,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, up slightly from 118,000 in 2023.
The federation covers track and field, road running, and cross country events organized through its affiliated athletics clubs across the country.
Latest Posts about Athletics
#9 Swimming
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 119,000 (Royal Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB), 2024)
The Royal Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB) had 119,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, down from 125,000 in 2023.
The federation governs competitive swimming disciplines nationwide, including pool swimming, water polo, and synchronized swimming, through its affiliated clubs.
Latest Posts about Swimming
#10 Volleyball
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 105,000 (Dutch Volleyball Federation (Nevobo), 2024)
- Top national league: Eredivisie Volleybal
The Dutch Volleyball Federation (Nevobo) had 105,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, up from 103,000 in 2023.
The top domestic competition for the sport is the Eredivisie Volleybal. Nevobo governs both indoor volleyball and beach volleyball in the Netherlands under a single membership structure.
Latest Posts about Volleyball
#11 Bridge
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 84,000 (Dutch Bridge Federation (Nederlandse Bridge Bond), 2024)
The Dutch Bridge Federation had 84,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, down from 87,000 in 2023. Bridge is one of the mind sports NOC*NSF counts as an affiliated federation alongside physical sports.
Club bridge is organized nationally through regional bridge clubs affiliated with the federation, with competitions held at local, regional, and national level.
#12 Korfball
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 81,000 (Royal Dutch Korfball Association (KNKV), 2024)
The Royal Dutch Korfball Association (KNKV) had 81,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, up slightly from 80,000 in 2023.
Korfball, a mixed gender team sport, was developed in Amsterdam in 1902 by Dutch schoolteacher Nico Broekhuysen, and the country remains the sport’s largest base.
#13 Climbing and mountaineering
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 76,000 (Royal Dutch Alpine Club (NKBV), 2024)
The Royal Dutch Alpine Club (NKBV) had 76,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, up from 72,000 in 2023.
The federation governs climbing and mountaineering disciplines nationwide, including indoor climbing at its affiliated climbing walls, despite the Netherlands having little natural mountain terrain of its own.
#14 Sailing and watersports
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 71,000 (Royal Dutch Watersports Association (Watersportverbond), 2024)
The Royal Dutch Watersports Association had 71,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, unchanged from 2023.
The federation is the umbrella body for sailing, windsurfing, motorboating, and paddling sports, covering several distinct water sport disciplines under one membership structure rather than a single sport.
#15 Basketball
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 62,000 (Dutch Basketball Federation (Nederlandse Basketball Bond), 2024)
The Dutch Basketball Federation had 62,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, up from 60,000 in 2023.
The federation organizes competitive basketball nationwide through its affiliated clubs, with membership growing each of the two most recent years covered in the NOC*NSF table.
Latest Posts about Basketball
#16 Handball
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 52,000 (Dutch Handball Federation (NHV), 2024)
- Top national league: Eredivisie Handbal
The Dutch Handball Federation (NHV) had 52,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, up from 51,000 in 2023.
The federation’s top domestic competition is the Eredivisie Handbal, organized nationwide through NHV affiliated clubs.
Latest Posts about Handball
#17 Skiing
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 51,000 (Dutch Ski Federation (Nederlandse Ski Vereniging), 2024)
The Dutch Ski Federation had 51,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, down from 53,000 in 2023.
The federation organizes alpine and cross country skiing for Dutch members, most of whom train domestically on artificial slopes or dry ski facilities and travel abroad to compete on snow.
Latest Posts about Skiing
#18 Speed skating
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 45,000 (Royal Dutch Skating Federation (KNSB), 2024)
The Royal Dutch Skating Federation (KNSB) had 45,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, down slightly from 46,000 in 2023.
The federation governs long track and short track speed skating as well as recreational skating on natural ice, a sport closely tied to Dutch winter tradition.
Latest Posts about Speed Skating
#19 Rowing
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 44,000 (Royal Dutch Rowing Federation (KNRB), 2024)
The Royal Dutch Rowing Federation (KNRB) had 44,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, up from 42,000 in 2023.
Rowing is organized nationally through KNRB affiliated clubs, many of them based on the country’s extensive network of rivers and canals.
Latest Posts about Rowing
#20 Judo
- NOC*NSF federation memberships: 43,000 (Judo Federation Netherlands (JBN), 2024)
The Judo Federation Netherlands (JBN) had 43,000 members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table, up from 42,000 in 2023.
Judo is organized nationally through JBN affiliated clubs, with the Netherlands having produced multiple Olympic judo medalists over the decades.
Latest Posts about Judo
Sources
- NOC*NSF, Zo Sport Nederland 2024, Bijlage 1: Lidmaatschappen sportbonden totaal
- Voetbal International (vi.nl)
- GP Destinations (reporting Formula 1’s official figure)
- Rijksoverheid (Dutch national government), sport and exercise policy pages
- KNVB
- International Korfball Federation
- NOC*NSF, Zo Sport Nederland 2024, Bijlage 1
- NOC*NSF, Zo Sport Nederland 2024, Bijlage 1
- NOC*NSF, Zo Sport Nederland 2024, Bijlage 1
- NOC*NSF, Zo Sport Nederland 2024, Bijlage 1
- NOC*NSF, Zo Sport Nederland 2024, Bijlage 1
Figures on this page come from national federations and statistics offices and are only as current as their latest published report. Last reviewed: August 2026.
FAQ
What is the most popular sport in the Netherlands?
Football is the most popular sport in the Netherlands by a wide margin. NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table counted 1,240,000 members for the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), making it by far the largest sports federation in the country, well ahead of the second largest federation, Sportvisserij Nederland, with 739,000 members in the same table.
What is a popular sport in the Netherlands?
Besides football, popular organized sports in the Netherlands include angling, tennis, golf, and gymnastics. NOC*NSF’s 2024 membership table counted 739,000 members for Sportvisserij Nederland, 666,000 for the KNLTB tennis federation, 447,000 for the Dutch Golf Federation, and 263,000 for the Royal Dutch Gymnastics Union.
Is soccer the national sport of the Netherlands?
No Dutch law or government decree designates an official national sport. Football is nonetheless widely treated as the de facto national sport because its federation, the KNVB, is by far the largest sports organization in the country.
What sport is mainly played in the Netherlands?
Football is the sport with by far the most registered members in the Netherlands, with 1,240,000 KNVB members in NOC*NSF’s 2024 table. Field hockey, with 256,000 KNHB members in the same table, is also widely played and is one of the sports in which Dutch athletes such as Maartje Paumen have won multiple Olympic titles.
What are some Dutch sport facts?
Korfball, a mixed gender team sport, was developed in Amsterdam in 1902 by schoolteacher Nico Broekhuysen. Dutch dressage rider Anky van Grunsven won three consecutive individual Olympic gold medals between 2000 and 2008, and tennis player Richard Krajicek remains the only Dutch man to have won a Grand Slam singles title, at Wimbledon in 1996.
