If you are relocating to the Netherlands, it is possible that familiarising yourself with the local sporting culture will not be high on your to-do list during the first week of your arrival.
However, if you want to learn about the society of your new home, one of the best ways to do so is through the sports played there. The Dutch have a lot to offer everyone, regardless of whether you choose to spectate from a comfortable chair or actually get your hands dirty.
Continue reading to learn more about the sports that are played frequently in the Netherlands.
Choosing A Betting Site In The Netherlands
Since sports are popular in the Netherlands, so is betting on sports. But to bet on sports, fans need to find trusted online betting providers in NL to ensure that they can bet safely and efficiently.
Whenever it comes to choosing between betting websites that are based in the Netherlands, you actually have quite a few options available. We have made a list of the key features that one needs to look for to be able to make your life a little bit easier:
- Markets available
- Prices
- Promotions
- Special features
- Customer support
Football
Your time in the Netherlands won't have to be spent there for very long before you realize how seriously the people take their football. The sport is performed across the country by people of different ages and skills, including women, children, and men.
It won't take long to locate a local team in the area that will accept your children as members if you have children of your own. You may also find foreign teams in many of the larger cities throughout the world if you wish to play the game on your own. These are wonderful ways to meet new people and expand your social circle.
Ice Skating
When you experience your first Dutch winter, you'll quickly learn how much the locals enjoy ice skating as a kind of recreational activity. As soon as the temperature falls below zero, they pull out their skates with the expectation that the countless kilometers of waterways throughout the country will become frozen.
They frequently do, from historic canals in the core of cities to fields in the outskirts of towns — just make sure to check the local reports before stepping out on the ice to assure your safety.
If you're very fortunate, you might even get to witness the world-famous Elfstedentocht, a race that covers a distance of 200 kilometers through the frozen landscape of Friesland. On the other hand, the race does not take place unless the ice is sufficiently thick; the most recent one was in 1997.
Field Hockey
When most people think of major sports inside the Netherlands, field hockey probably isn't the first idea that springs to mind.
However, the Dutch are quite passionate about their field hockey. In point of fact, the Oranje Dames women's team of the Netherlands has been the most accomplished in the annals of Olympic competition, having won a record nine medals overall, including four gold.
They have won both the European and World championships as of 2021 and continue to draw large crowds to their matches.
Tennis
It shouldn't come as much of a surprise to learn that the Dutch enjoy nothing more than getting in a few sets of tennis, given that tennis is among the most widely played sports in the world.
The Netherlands, in contrast to its neighboring countries, does not have a long tradition of producing successful tennis players. In point of fact, Richard Krajicek was the first player from the Netherlands ever to win a grand slam tournament, as he did at Wimbledon in 1996.
On the other hand, the younger generation of players who are now working their way up the ladder will try their best to modify that statistic.
Motorsport
Whenever you start thinking of the Dutch, one might envision them as being more engaged in sports that involve pedaling than in activities that involve anything that has a motor.
In point of fact, people who live in the Netherlands are huge fans of cycling, whether they are going to the grocery on their bikes or going to the velodrome to watch the pro race. On the other hand, in recent years, a significant amount of local interest has been captured by the exciting and glamorous realm of Formula 1.
Korfball
The high-intensity team sport known as korfball is comparable to both netballs as well as basketball in terms of gameplay. Competitors in the game attempt to pass a ball similar to a football through a hoop.
The game is often played with teams that include members of both sexes. Nico Broekhuysen, a Dutch educator, is credited with inventing korfball around the year 1902. However, ever since that time, the game has become popular all over the world, and there is now a World Korfball Championship held once every four years.
Find a korfball team in your area to participate in if you want to have a truly authentic Dutch sporting experience, just like one would listen to Elton John if they are looking for an authentic musical experience.