The Netherlands national water polo team represents the Netherlands in men's international

water polo Water polo is a competitive sport, competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the water polo ball, ball into the oppo ...

competitions and friendly matches. The team won bronze medals at the

1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and officially branded as London 1948, were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus cau ...

and the

1976 Summer Olympics The 1976 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Montreal 1976 (), were an international multi-sport event held from July 17 to August 1, 1976, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Montreal ...

Results

Medal count

Olympic Games

1908 This is the longest year in either the Julian or Gregorian calendars, having a duration of 31622401.38 seconds of Terrestrial Time (or ephemeris time), measured according to the definition of mean solar time. Events January * January ...

– 4th place *

1920 Events January * January 1 ** Polish–Soviet War: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20. ** Kauniainen in Finland, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its ow ...

– 5th place *

1924 Events January * January 12 – Gopinath Saha shoots Ernest Day, whom he has mistaken for Sir Charles Tegart, the police commissioner of Calcutta, and is arrested soon after. * January 20–January 30, 30 – Kuomintang in Ch ...

– 7th place *

1928 Events January * January – British bacteriologist Frederick Griffith reports the results of Griffith's experiment, indirectly demonstrating that DNA is the genetic material. * January 1 – Eastern Bloc emigration and defection: Boris B ...

– 5th place *

1936 Events January–February * January 20 – The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King Edward VIII, following the death of his father, George V, at Sandringham House. * January 28 – Death and state funer ...

– 5th place *

1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The current Constitutions of Constitution of Italy, Italy and of Constitution of New Jersey, New Jersey (both later subject to amendment) ...

– Bronze medal *

1952 Events January–February * January 26 – Cairo Fire, Black Saturday in Kingdom of Egypt, Egypt: Rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses. * February 6 ** Princess Elizabeth, ...

– 5th place *

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Janu ...

– 8th place *

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 – In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patria ...

– 8th place *

1968 Events January–February * January 1968, January – The I'm Backing Britain, I'm Backing Britain campaign starts spontaneously. * January 5 – Prague Spring: Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Cze ...

– 7th place *

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...

– 7th place *

1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

– Bronze medal *

1980 Events January * January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a United States grain embargo against the Soviet Union, grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. * January 6 – Global Positioning Sys ...

– 6th place *

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

– 6th place *

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

– 9th place *

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

– 10th place *

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

– 11th place

World Championship

1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...

– 8th place *

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 – Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

– 7th place *

1978 Events January * January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213. * January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...

– 13th place *

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C. ...

– 4th place *

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. ** Spain and Portugal en ...

– 14th place *

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

– 8th place *

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

– 9th place

FINA World Cup

1983 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to TCP/IP is officially completed (this is considered to be the beginning of the ...

– 6th place *

1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a n ...

– 6th place *

1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...

– 7th place *

2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...

– 6th place

FINA World League

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

– 6th place *

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

– European Preliminary round *

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

– European Preliminary round *

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

– European Preliminary round

European Championship

1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the BBC, British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith, 1st Baron Reith, John Reith becomes the first ...

– 11th place *

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...

– 9th place *

1938 Events January * January 1 – state-owned enterprise, State-owned railway networks are created by merger, in France (SNCF) and the Netherlands (Nederlandse Spoorwegen – NS). * January 20 – King Farouk of Egypt marries Saf ...

– Bronze medal *

1947 It was the first year of the Cold War, which would last until 1991, ending with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Events January * January–February – Winter of 1946–47 in the United Kingdom: The worst snowfall in the country i ...

– 5th place *

1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash, Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 ...

– Gold medal *

1954 Events January * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown–IBM experiment: The first public demonstration of a machine translation system is held in New York, at the head ...

– 4th place *

1958 Events January * January 1 – The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being. * January 3 – The West Indies Federation is formed. * January 4 ** Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the thir ...

– 6th place *

1962 The year saw the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is often considered the closest the world came to a Nuclear warfare, nuclear confrontation during the Cold War. Events January * January 1 – Samoa, Western Samoa becomes independent from Ne ...

– 6th place *

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

– 8th place *

1970 Events January * January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC. * January 5 – The 7.1 1970 Tonghai earthquake, Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity scale, Mercalli ...

– 5th place *

1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; ...

– 4th place *

1977 Events January * January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...

– 5th place *

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...

– 8th place *

– 6th place *

– 7th place *

1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...

– 8th place *

1991 It was the final year of the Cold War, which had begun in 1947. During the year, the Soviet Union Dissolution of the Soviet Union, collapsed, leaving Post-soviet states, fifteen sovereign republics and the Commonwealth of Independent State ...

– 9th place *

1993 The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as: * International Year for the World's Indigenous People The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...

– 8th place *

– 10th place *

1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...

– 9th place *

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

– 12th place *

– 10th place *

– 11th place *

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

– 10th place *

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

– 10th place *

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

– 12th place *

– 10th place *

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

– 15th place *

2022 The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...

– 11th place *

2024 The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...

– 11th place *

2026 Predicted and scheduled events * January 1 – Bulgaria is expected to adopt the euro and become the 21st member state of the eurozone. * January 6 – The 2025 Jubilee will end on this day. * February 5 – The New START Treat ...

– ''Qualified''

Team

Current squad

Roster for the

2020 Men's European Water Polo Championship The 2020 Men's European Water Polo Championship was the 34th edition of the major European water polo tournament for national teams. It was held at the Danube Arena in Budapest, Hungary, from 14 to 26 January 2020. Hungary claimed their 13th titl ...

. Head coach: Harry van der Meer

Past squads

1908 Olympic Games The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, England, from 27 April to 31 October 1908. The 1908 Games were originally schedu ...

– ''4th place'' :*

Bouke Benenga Bouke Benenga (27 March 1888 – 4 January 1968) was a Dutch freestyle swimmer and water polo player who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He participated in the 100 metre freestyle competition, but he was eliminated in the first round. Al ...

, Johan Cortlever, Jan Hulswit,

Eduard Meijer Eduard Meijer (25 February 1878 – 20 March 1929) was a Dutch freestyle swimming, freestyle swimmer and water polo player who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics and 1908 Summer Olympics. In 1900 he competed in the Swimming at the 1900 Summer ...

, Karel Meijer,

Piet Ooms Pieter ("Piet") Lodewijk Ooms (11 December 1884, Amsterdam – 14 February 1961, Amsterdam) was a Dutch freestyle swimmer and water polo player who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the I ...

, and Johan Rühl. *

1960 Olympic Games The 1960 Olympics may refer to: *The 1960 Winter Olympics, which were held in Squaw Valley, United States *The 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad () and commonly known as Rome 19 ...

– ''8th place'' :* Fred van Dorp,

Henk Hermsen Hendrik Willem "Henk" Hermsen (29 August 1937 – 9 April 2022)

Ben Kniest Lambertus "Ben" Gerhardus Kniest (27 August 1927 – 18 July 1992) was a water polo player from the Netherlands, who competed at the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics The , officially the and commonly known as Tokyo 1964 (), were an internationa ...

, Harry Lamme, Bram Leenards, Hans Muller, Harro Ran,

Harry Vriend Henri "Harry" Gerard Vriend (born 20 May 1938) is a former water polo player from the Netherlands, who competed at the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics; in both games he finished in eighth position with the Dutch Men's Team. His brother Wim Wim is ...

, and Fred van der Zwan. * 1964 Olympic Games – ''8th place'' :* Jan Bultman, Fred van Dorp,

Henk Hermsen Hendrik Willem "Henk" Hermsen (29 August 1937 – 9 April 2022)

, Bram Leenards, Hans Muller, Wim van Spingelen, Nico van der Voet,

Wim Vriend Willem "Wim" Jan Frederik Vriend (9 November 1941 – 30 September 2021) was a water polo player from the Netherlands, who finished in eighth position with the Dutch Men's Team at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. His elder brother Harry ...

, and Gerrit Wormgoor. * 1968 Olympic Games – ''7th place'' :*

Bart Bongers Bart Bongers (October 6, 1946 – May 3, 2007) was a water polo player from The Netherlands who finished in seventh position with the Dutch Men's Team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexi ...

, Fred van Dorp, Loet Geutjes, André Hermsen, Hans Hoogveld, Evert Kroon, Ad Moolhuijzen, Hans Parrel, Nico van der Voet, Feike de Vries, and Hans Wouda. * 1972 Olympic Games – ''7th place'' :* Mart Bras, Ton Buunk,

Wim Hermsen Willem "Wim" Hermsen (born September 7, 1947) is an astrophysicist and a former water polo player from the Netherlands. He finished in seventh position with the Dutch Men's Water Polo Team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Two of his brother ...

, Hans Hoogveld, Evert Kroon, Hans Parrel, Ton Schmidt,

Wim van de Schilde Willem ("Wim") van de Schilde (born 4 November 1948) is a former water polo player from The Netherlands, who finished in seventh position with the Dutch Men's Water Polo Team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. See also * Netherlands men's O ...

, Gijze Stroboer,

Jan Evert Veer Jan Evert Veer (born 1 November 1950) is a former water polo player from the Netherlands. He participated in three Summer Olympics, starting in 1972 in Munich. After the seventh place in West Germany, four years later the Dutch won the bronze med ...

, and Hans Wouda. *

1976 Olympic Games 1976 Olympics refers to both: *The 1976 Winter Olympics, which were originally to be held in Denver, United States, but relocated to Innsbruck, Austria *The 1976 Summer Olympics The 1976 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of t ...

– ''Bronze Medal'' :* Alex Boegschoten, Ton Buunk,

Andy Hoepelman Ilja Mohandas "Andy" Hoepelman (born March 26, 1955) is a Dutch former Olympic water polo player and current professor in medicine, subspecialty infectious diseases. He has more than 500 peer-reviewed articles on his name. He retired in August 20 ...

, Evert Kroon, Nico Landeweerd,

Hans Smits Hans Karel Daniël Smits (born January 24, 1956) is a former water polo player from The Netherlands, who won the bronze medal with the Dutch Men's Team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. See also * List of Olympic medalists ...

, Gijze Stroboer, Rik Toonen,

, Hans van Zeeland, and Piet de Zwarte. * 1980 Olympic Games – ''6th place'' :*

Stan van Belkum Stanislaus ("Stan") van Belkum (born 1 February 1961) is a former water polo player from the Netherlands, who participated in two Summer Olympics. In 1980 he finished in sixth position with the Dutch team. Four years later in Los Angeles ...

Wouly de Bie Wouly Sybrand de Bie (4 March 1958 – 31 August 2023) was a water polo goalkeeper from the Netherlands, who participated in two Summer Olympics. In 1980 he finished in sixth position with the Dutch team. Four years later in Los Angeles, de Bie ...

, Ton Buunk,

Jan Jaap Korevaar Jan Jaap Korevaar (born May 22, 1957) is a former water polo player from the Netherlands. He finished in sixth position with the Dutch team at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and t ...

, Nico Landeweerd, Aad van Mil, Ruud Misdorp, Dick Nieuwenhuizen, Eric Noordegraaf,

, and Hans van Zeeland. *

1984 Olympic Games The 1984 Olympics may refer to: *The 1984 Winter Olympics, which were held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia *The 1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and commonly known as Los Angeles 1984) were an i ...

– ''6th place'' :* Johan Aantjes,

, Ton Buunk, Ed van Es, Anton Heiden, Nico Landeweerd, Aad van Mil, Ruud Misdorp, Dick Nieuwenhuizen, Eric Noordegraaf, Roald van Noort, and Remco Pielstroom. * 1992 Olympic Games – ''9th place'' :* Bert Brinkman,

Arie van de Bunt Arend Jantinus "Arie" van de Bunt (born 7 June 1969) is a former water polo goalkeeper from the Netherlands, who participated in three Summer Olympics for Holland. From 1992 on he finished in ninth (Barcelona), tenth (Atlanta) and eleventh (Sydne ...

, Marc van Belkum, Robert Havekotte, Koos Issard, John Jansen,

Gijs van der Leden Gijsbert Johan ("Gijs") van der Leden (born 11 May 1967) is a retired water polo player from the Netherlands, who finished in ninth place with the Dutch team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northe ...

, Harry van der Meer, Hans Nieuwenburg, Remco Pielstroom, John Scherrenburg, Jalo de Vries, and

Jan Wagenaar Jan Wagenaar (25 October 1709 – 1 March 1773) was a Dutch historian, best known for his contributions to ''Tegenwoordige staat van nederland'' and ''Vaderlandsche Historie''. Biography Wagenaar was born in Amsterdam to a Mennonite master ...

. *

1996 Olympic Games The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

– ''10th place'' :*

, Gert de Groot,

Arno Havenga Arno Havenga (born 14 November 1974) is a Dutch male former water polo player and current coach. He was a member of the Netherlands men's national water polo team. He competed with the team at the Water polo at the 1996 Summer Olympics, 1996 Sum ...

, Koos Issard, Bas de Jong,

Niels van der Kolk Niels van der Kolk (born 7 October 1970) is a Dutch water polo player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and c ...

, Marco Kunz, Harry van der Meer, Hans Nieuwenburg, Joeri Stoffels,

Eelco Uri Eelco Uri (born 5 December 1973) is a Dutch former water polo player. He was a member of the Netherlands men's national water polo team. He competed with the team at the 1994 and 2001 World Championships; the 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003 Euro ...

, Wim Vermeulen and Wyco de Vries. Head Coach: Hans van Zeeland. *

2000 Olympic Games The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, officially branded as Sydney 2000, and also known as the Games of the New Millennium, were an international multi-sport event held from 15 September to 1 October ...

– ''11th place'' :*

, Marco Booij, Bjørn Boom, Bobbie Brebde, Matthijs de Bruijn,

, Bas de Jong, Harry van der Meer, Gerben Silvis, Kimmo Thomas,

, Wim Vermeulen, and Niels Zuidweg. Head Coach: Johan Aantjes. * 2004 Olympic Qualifying Tournament – ''5th place'' :* Marco Booij, Bjørn Boom, Kjell Boom, Matthijs de Bruijn,

, Bas de Jong, Gijs de Kock, Tjerk Kramer, Marc Nolting, Mark Siewers, Gerben Silvis,

, Niels Zuidweg. Head Coach: Ron de Vogel.

References

External links

* {{Men's European Water Polo Championship winners Men's national water polo teams Men's sport in the Netherlands