Netherlands national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Netherlands

Nicknames	Oranje Clockwork Orange The Flying Dutchmen
Association	Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (KNVB)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Vacant
Captain	Virgil van Dijk
Most caps	Wesley Sneijder (134)
Top scorer	Memphis Depay (55)
Home stadium	Various
FIFA code	NED
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	14 (7 February 2019)
Highest	1 (August 2011)
Lowest	36 (August 2017)
First international
Belgium 1–4 Netherlands  (Antwerp, Belgium; 30 April 1905)
Biggest win
Netherlands 11–0 San Marino  (Eindhoven, Netherlands; 2 September 2011)
Biggest defeat
England Amateurs 12–2 Netherlands  (Darlington, England; 21 December 1907)
World Cup
Appearances	12 (first in 1934)
Best result	Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010)
European Championship
Appearances	11 (first in 1976)
Best result	Champions (1988)
Nations League Finals
Appearances	2 (first in 2019)
Best result	Runners-up (2019)
Olympic Games
Appearances	7 (first in 1908)
Best result	Bronze medal (1908, 1912, 1920)
Medal record Men's football FIFA World Cup 1974 West Germany Team 1978 Argentina Team 2010 South Africa Team Bronze 2014 Brazil Team UEFA European Championship 1988 West Germany Team Bronze 1976 Yugoslavia Team UEFA Nations League 2019 Portugal Team Olympic Games Bronze 1908 London Team Bronze 1912 Stockholm Team Bronze 1920 Antwerp Team

The Netherlands national football team represents the Netherlands in international men's football matches. This team has been playing since 1905. The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) manages the team. This association is part of UEFA (Europe) and FIFA.

The team is often called Het Nederlands Elftal (The Dutch Eleven) or Oranje. This nickname comes from the House of Orange-Nassau and their famous orange jerseys. Their dedicated fan club is known as Het Oranje Legioen (The Orange Legion).

The Netherlands has played in 12 FIFA World Cups. They reached the final three times, in 1974, 1978, and 2010, finishing as runners-up each time. In the 2026 World Cup, they reached the Round of 32. They have also competed in 11 UEFA European Championships, winning the tournament in 1988. The team earned bronze medals at three Olympic football tournaments in 1908, 1912, and 1920. The Netherlands has strong football rivalries with nearby countries like Belgium and Germany. They also have a rivalry with Argentina.

History of Dutch Football

Early Years: 1905–1969

The Netherlands played its first international match in Antwerp against Belgium on April 30, 1905. The game ended in a 1–1 tie after 90 minutes. Because it was for the Coupe van den Abeele, the match went into extra time. Eddy de Neve scored three goals, leading the Netherlands to a 4–1 victory.

In 1908, the Netherlands played in their first official tournament at the Summer Olympics in London. They won a bronze medal after losing to Great Britain in the semi-finals. They then beat Sweden 2–0 in the bronze medal match. The team also won bronze medals at the 1912 and 1920 Olympic Games.

The Netherlands reached the semi-finals at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. They lost 2–1 to Uruguay. After being eliminated early at the 1928 Summer Olympics at home, they did not attend the first World Cup in 1930. This was due to the high travel costs.

The team made its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 1934 against Switzerland. Kick Smit scored the first World Cup goal for the Netherlands. They were eliminated in the first round, losing 3–2. A second World Cup appearance in 1938 also ended in a first-round exit against Czechoslovakia.

After World War II, the Netherlands only qualified for two international tournaments before the 1970s. These were the 1948 Summer Olympics and the 1952 Summer Olympics. They were eliminated early in both.

Total Football and the First Golden Era: 1970s

In the 1970s, the team started using the "Total Football" (Dutch: Totaalvoetbal) strategy. This style was developed by Ajax and led by player Johan Cruyff and coach Rinus Michels. The Netherlands improved greatly, reaching two World Cup finals in this decade.

In 1974, the Netherlands beat Brazil and Argentina to reach the final for the first time. However, they lost to West Germany in the final in Munich. They scored first with an early penalty kick by Johan Neeskens. But West Germany came back to win 2–1.

The team reached their first European Championship in 1976. They finished in third place after losing to Czechoslovakia.

In 1978, the Netherlands qualified for the World Cup in Argentina. Johan Cruyff decided not to play in the competition to focus on his family. The team still had many talented players. They reached the final against Argentina. After a tough match that went into extra time, the Netherlands lost 3–1.

European Champions: 1980s

Euro 1980 was the last tournament for the "Total Football" team. They did not get past the group stage. After this, many veteran players retired. The Netherlands went through a difficult period. They missed the 1982, 1984, and 1986 major tournaments. For the 1986 World Cup, they lost to Belgium on away goals in a play-off.

Coach Rinus Michels returned for Euro 1988 in West Germany. After losing their first group match, the Netherlands qualified for the semi-finals. They beat England 3–1, with a hat-trick by Marco van Basten. They then defeated the Republic of Ireland 1–0. Van Basten scored a late goal against the host Germans in the semi-final. The Netherlands won the final against the Soviet Union. Goals from Ruud Gullit and Van Basten secured their first major tournament win.

The Netherlands was a favorite for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. However, they only scored two goals in the group stage. They were defeated 2–1 by West Germany in the next round.

The team reached the semi-finals of Euro 1992 in Sweden. They were eliminated by eventual champions Denmark in a penalty shootout. This was Van Basten's last major tournament due to an ankle injury. Rinus Michels also retired after this tournament.

Dick Advocaat became the coach for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Key players like Van Basten and Ruud Gullit were injured. Dennis Bergkamp led the team with three goals. The Netherlands reached the quarter-finals, where they lost 3–2 to eventual champions Brazil.

Another Strong Era: 1996–2014

With Guus Hiddink as manager, the Netherlands played in Euro 1996. They lost to France in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout. In the 1998 World Cup, with stars like Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Kluivert, they reached the semi-finals. They again lost on penalties, this time to Brazil. They finished fourth after losing to Croatia.

The Netherlands co-hosted Euro 2000 with Belgium. They won all their group games and beat FR Yugoslavia 6–1 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, they were eliminated by Italy in a penalty shootout. The team then failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

Dick Advocaat returned as coach in 2002. They qualified for UEFA Euro 2004 and reached the semi-finals, losing to hosts Portugal. Advocaat resigned after criticism.

Under new manager Marco van Basten, the Netherlands qualified for the 2006 World Cup. They were eliminated in the second round by Portugal in a very competitive match. This game saw a record number of yellow and red cards. The Netherlands qualified for Euro 2008 and were in a tough group with France, Italy, and Romania. They won all their group matches but lost to Russia 3–1 in the quarter-finals. Van Basten then resigned.

Under coach Bert van Marwijk, the Netherlands had a perfect record in their 2010 World Cup qualification campaign. They won all eight games. In the World Cup, they reached the final for the first time since 1978. They beat Brazil and Uruguay on their way. However, they lost 1–0 to Spain in extra time. From August to September 2011, the team was ranked number one in the FIFA World Ranking.

For Euro 2012, the Netherlands were in a difficult group with Germany, Portugal, and Denmark. They lost all three group matches, which was a first for the team. Manager Bert van Marwijk resigned.

Louis van Gaal became manager for the second time. In the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, the Netherlands won nine games and drew one. They topped their group and qualified easily. In the World Cup, they defeated defending champions Spain 5–1 in their first match.

After winning their group, the Netherlands beat Mexico 2–1 in the Round of 16. They then won a penalty shootout against Costa Rica in the quarter-finals. In the semi-final against Argentina, the Netherlands lost in a penalty shootout. They won the third-place match against hosts Brazil 3–0. Van Gaal received praise for leading a young team to such a strong finish.

Recent Years: 2014–Present

Guus Hiddink took over as manager for the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. He resigned in 2015 and Danny Blind became coach. The Netherlands failed to qualify for the European Championship for the first time since 1984. They also missed a major tournament for the first time since 2002. Their poor form continued into the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Blind was dismissed after a loss to Bulgaria. Dick Advocaat returned, but the team still failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

In 2018, Ronald Koeman became manager. The Netherlands qualified for League A in the UEFA Nations League. They reached the finals, beating England in the semi-finals. However, they lost 1–0 to Portugal in the final.

The Netherlands qualified for UEFA Euro 2020 (played in 2021). Ronald Koeman resigned to coach Barcelona, and Frank de Boer took over. The Netherlands played their group matches at home, winning all three. But they were beaten 2–0 by the Czech Republic in the Round of 16. De Boer then left his position. Louis van Gaal returned for his third time as coach. On November 16, 2021, the Netherlands qualified for the 2022 World Cup. In the 2022 World Cup, they topped their group. They reached the quarter-finals but lost to Argentina on penalties. This tournament was a farewell for manager Louis Van Gaal.

At Euro 2024, the Netherlands qualified from the group stage. They won against Poland, drew with France, and lost to Austria. In the Round of 16, they beat Romania 3–0. In the quarter-final, they faced Turkey. Turkey scored first, but Stefan de Vrij equalized. An own goal by Mert Müldür completed the comeback for the Netherlands. In the semi-final, they were eliminated by England after a late goal.

At the 2026 World Cup, the Netherlands topped their group with 7 points. They were knocked out in the Round of 32 on penalties by Morocco. After their exit, Ronald Koeman announced his resignation as manager.

Team Image and Identity

Kits and Crest

The Netherlands national football team is famous for its bright orange shirts. Orange is the historic national color of the Netherlands. It comes from the Prince of Orange, a ruling head of state. The current away shirt for the Netherlands is blue.

The team's crest features a lion. This lion is the national and royal animal of the Netherlands. It has been on the crest since 1907. The women's team uses a lioness on their logo.

Nike has been the team's kit provider since 1996. This partnership is set to continue until at least 2026. Before Nike, the team's kits were supplied by Adidas and Lotto.

Kit Suppliers

Kit supplier	Period	Notes
Tweka	1934–1966
Umbro	1966–1969
Jansen & Tilanus	1969–1974
Adidas	1974–1990
Lotto	1991–1996
Nike	1996–present

Rivalries in Football

The Netherlands has a long-standing football rivalry with Germany. This rivalry became very strong after the 1974 World Cup final, where the Netherlands lost to West Germany. It is one of the most famous rivalries in international football.

The Netherlands also has a rivalry with its neighbor, Belgium. Matches between them are called a Low Countries derby. They have played 129 matches as of September 2022. This rivalry was more frequent in the past.

In recent years, the Netherlands has also developed a rivalry with Argentina. This was highlighted by their match in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final, known as the Battle of Lusail.

Another growing rivalry is against Spain. Matches like the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups and Nations League games have made this rivalry more intense.

Fandom

Since the 2004 UEFA European Championship, the Dutch Orange Bus has been a popular part of the fan experience. It leads fan marches and tailgate parties.

Media Coverage

Matches involving the Netherlands are broadcast on Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. This includes friendly games, Nations League matches, and World Cup qualifiers. The current contract runs until 2027.

Home Stadiums

The Netherlands national team does not have one main national stadium. However, they play most of their matches at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. This stadium hosted its first competitive international match for the Netherlands in 1997. It was a 1998 World Cup qualification match against San Marino, which the Netherlands won 4–0. The stadium was renamed in 2018 in memory of Johan Cruyff.

De Kuip in Rotterdam has also hosted many matches regularly throughout history. Sometimes, games are played at Philips Stadion in Eindhoven and De Grolsch Veste in Enschede.

Recent Match Results and Upcoming Games

The following is a list of recent match results, as well as any upcoming matches that have been scheduled.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2025 Matches

2026 Matches

Coaching Staff

This table shows the current coaching staff for the Netherlands national football team.

Position	Name
Head coach	Vacant
Assistant coaches	Ruud van Nistelrooy
Goalkeeping coach	Patrick Lodewijks
Fitness coaches	Jan Kluitenberg Martin Cruijff
Team manager	Cor Asp
Sports Scientist	David van Maurik
Physiotherapist(s)	Ricardo de Sanders Gert-Jan Goudswaard Luc van Agt
Doctor(s)	Edwin Goedhart Rien Heijboer
Masseurs	Rob Koster
Analyst(s)	Cees Lok Gert Aandewiel Dennis Demmers

Coaching History

Players

Current Squad

The following 26 players were part of the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Jurriën Timber withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Lutsharel Geertruida on June 8. Caps and goals are correct as of 29 June 2026, after the match against Morocco.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Bart Verbruggen	(2002-08-18) 18 August 2002 (age 24)	33	0	Brighton & Hove Albion
13	1GK	Robin Roefs	(2003-01-17) 17 January 2003 (age 23)	1	0	Sunderland
23	1GK	Mark Flekken	(1993-06-13) 13 June 1993 (age 33)	12	0	Bayer Leverkusen
2	2DF	Lutsharel Geertruida	(2000-07-18) 18 July 2000 (age 26)	21	0	RB Leipzig
4	2DF	Virgil van Dijk (captain)	(1991-07-08) 8 July 1991 (age 35)	96	13	Liverpool
5	2DF	Nathan Aké	(1995-02-18) 18 February 1995 (age 31)	62	5	Fenerbahçe
6	2DF	Jan Paul van Hecke	(2000-06-08) 8 June 2000 (age 26)	16	1	Tottenham Hotspur
12	2DF	Mats Wieffer	(1999-11-16) 16 November 1999 (age 26)	15	1	Brighton & Hove Albion
15	2DF	Micky van de Ven	(2001-04-19) 19 April 2001 (age 25)	24	1	Tottenham Hotspur
22	2DF	Denzel Dumfries	(1996-04-18) 18 April 1996 (age 30)	76	11	Real Madrid
25	2DF	Jorrel Hato	(2006-03-07) 7 March 2006 (age 20)	9	0	Chelsea
3	3MF	Marten de Roon	(1991-03-29) 29 March 1991 (age 35)	44	1	Atalanta
7	3MF	Justin Kluivert	(1999-05-05) 5 May 1999 (age 27)	14	0	Bournemouth
8	3MF	Ryan Gravenberch	(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 24)	31	1	Liverpool
14	3MF	Tijjani Reijnders	(1998-07-29) 29 July 1998 (age 28)	35	7	Manchester City
16	3MF	Guus Til	(1997-12-22) 22 December 1997 (age 28)	8	1	PSV
20	3MF	Teun Koopmeiners	(1998-02-28) 28 February 1998 (age 28)	32	3	Juventus
21	3MF	Frenkie de Jong	(1997-05-12) 12 May 1997 (age 29)	70	2	Barcelona
26	3MF	Quinten Timber	(2001-06-17) 17 June 2001 (age 25)	13	1	Marseille
9	4FW	Wout Weghorst	(1992-08-07) 7 August 1992 (age 34)	53	14	Twente
10	4FW	Memphis Depay	(1994-02-13) 13 February 1994 (age 32)	112	55	Corinthians
11	4FW	Cody Gakpo	(1999-05-07) 7 May 1999 (age 27)	54	24	Liverpool
17	4FW	Noa Lang	(1999-06-17) 17 June 1999 (age 27)	17	3	Galatasaray
18	4FW	Donyell Malen	(1999-01-19) 19 January 1999 (age 27)	56	13	Roma
19	4FW	Brian Brobbey	(2002-02-01) 1 February 2002 (age 24)	16	4	Sunderland
24	4FW	Crysencio Summerville	(2001-10-30) 30 October 2001 (age 24)	6	2	West Ham United

Recent Call-ups

The following players were also called up for the team in the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Justin Bijlow	(1998-01-22) 22 January 1998 (age 28)	8	0	Genoa	v.  Ecuador, 31 March 2026
DF	Jurriën Timber	(2001-06-17) 17 June 2001 (age 25)	24	0	Arsenal	2026 FIFA World Cup INJ
DF	Ian Maatsen	(2002-03-10) 10 March 2002 (age 24)	1	1	Aston Villa	v.  Algeria, 3 June 2026
DF	Stefan de Vrij	(1992-02-05) 5 February 1992 (age 34)	79	4	Panathinaikos	v.  Ecuador, 31 March 2026
DF	Jeremie Frimpong	(2000-12-10) 10 December 2000 (age 25)	15	1	Liverpool	v.  Ecuador, 31 March 2026
DF	Matthijs de Ligt	(1999-08-12) 12 August 1999 (age 27)	52	2	Manchester United	v.  Lithuania, 17 November 2025 INJ
DF	Quilindschy Hartman	(2001-11-14) 14 November 2001 (age 24)	5	1	Burnley	v.  Poland, 14 November 2025 FIT
MF	Xavi Simons	(2003-04-21) 21 April 2003 (age 23)	34	6	Tottenham Hotspur	v.  Ecuador, 31 March 2026
MF	Jerdy Schouten	(1997-01-12) 12 January 1997 (age 29)	17	0	PSV	v.  Ecuador, 31 March 2026
MF	Luciano Valente	(2003-10-04) 4 October 2003 (age 22)	2	0	Feyenoord	v.  Ecuador, 31 March 2026
MF	Kees Smit	(2006-01-20) 20 January 2006 (age 20)	1	0	AZ	v.  Ecuador, 31 March 2026
MF	Sem Steijn	(2001-11-12) 12 November 2001 (age 24)	1	0	Feyenoord	v.  Lithuania, 7 September 2025
FW	Emmanuel Emegha	(2003-02-03) 3 February 2003 (age 23)	2	0	Chelsea	v.  Lithuania, 17 November 2025 INJ
FW	Mexx Meerdink	(2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 23)	0	0	AZ	v.  Malta, 9 October 2025
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. FIT Player withdrew from the squad due to fitness concerns. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player had announced retirement from national team. SUS Player is serving a suspension. PRI Player absent due to private circumstances.

Player Records

Here are some interesting records about the players who have represented the Netherlands. Players in bold are still active with the national team.

Most Appearances

Rank	Player	Matches	Goals	Career
1	Wesley Sneijder	134	31	2003–2018
2	Edwin van der Sar	130	0	1995–2008
3	Memphis Depay	112	55	2013–present
	Frank de Boer	112	13	1990–2004
5	Rafael van der Vaart	109	25	2001–2013
6	Daley Blind	108	3	2013–2024
7	Giovanni van Bronckhorst	106	6	1996–2010
8	Dirk Kuyt	104	24	2004–2014
9	Robin van Persie	102	50	2005–2017
10	Phillip Cocu	101	10	1996–2006

Top Goalscorers

Rank	Player	Goals	Matches	Ratio	Career
1	Memphis Depay	55	112	0.49	2013–present
2	Robin van Persie	50	102	0.49	2005–2017
3	Klaas-Jan Huntelaar	42	76	0.55	2006–2015
4	Patrick Kluivert	40	79	0.51	1994–2004
5	Dennis Bergkamp	37	79	0.47	1990–2000
	Arjen Robben	37	96	0.39	2003–2017
7	Faas Wilkes	35	38	0.92	1946–1961
	Ruud van Nistelrooy	35	70	0.5	1998–2011
9	Abe Lenstra	33	47	0.7	1940–1959
	Johan Cruyff	33	48	0.69	1966–1977

Manager Records

• Most wins: Louis van Gaal, 40 wins
• Longest time as coach: Bob Glendenning, 15 years
• Most times as coach: Rinus Michels, 4 times

Team Records

• Biggest win:
  •  Netherlands 11–0 San Marino  (Eindhoven, Netherlands; 2 September 2011)
• Biggest defeat:
  •  England Amateurs 12–2 Netherlands  (Darlington, England; 21 December 1907)

Competitive Record

FIFA World Cup History

The Netherlands has participated in 12 FIFA World Cups. Their first two appearances in 1934 and 1938 ended in first-round losses.

After not entering or failing to qualify for several tournaments, they qualified for the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. They lost 2–1 in the final to the host Germans. The Netherlands again reached the final in 1978, but lost 3–1 to Argentina after extra time.

In the 1990 edition, the Netherlands did not win a single game in the group stage. In 1994, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Brazil. They reached the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup but lost to Brazil in a penalty shootout. They finished fourth after losing to Croatia.

In 2006, the Netherlands reached the Round of 16, where they lost to Portugal in a very intense match. In the 2010 World Cup, the team topped their group. They defeated Slovakia and Brazil to reach the semi-finals, where they beat Uruguay. They made it to their first World Cup final since 1978, but lost 1–0 to Spain in extra time.

In 2014, the Netherlands won their group with victories over Spain, Australia, and Chile. They earned a bronze medal in the tournament after defeating host nation Brazil 3–0 in the third-place playoff.

After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the Netherlands qualified for the 2022 World Cup. They topped their group and defeated the United States in the Round of 16. They then lost to eventual champions Argentina in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout.

In the 2026 World Cup, the Netherlands topped their group. They were knocked out in the Round of 32 by Morocco after a penalty shootout.

     Champions       Runners-up       Third place       Fourth place  

FIFA World Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Did not enter										Did not enter
1934	Round of 16	9th	1	0	0	1	2	3	Squad		2	2	0	0	9	4
1938		14th	1	0	0	1	0	3	Squad		2	1	1	0	5	1
1950	Did not enter										Did not enter
1954
1958	Did not qualify										4	2	1	1	12	7
1962											3	0	2	1	4	7
1966											6	2	2	2	6	4
1970											6	3	1	2	9	5
1974	Runners-up	2nd	7	5	1	1	15	3	Squad		6	4	2	0	24	2
1978	Runners-up	2nd	7	3	2	2	15	10	Squad		6	5	1	0	11	3
1982	Did not qualify										8	4	1	3	11	7
1986											8	4	1	3	13	7
1990	Round of 16	15th	4	0	3	1	3	4	Squad		6	4	2	0	8	2
1994	Quarter-finals	7th	5	3	0	2	8	6	Squad		10	6	3	1	29	9
1998	Fourth place	4th	7	3	3	1	13	7	Squad		8	6	1	1	26	4
2002	Did not qualify										10	6	2	2	30	9
2006	Round of 16	11th	4	2	1	1	3	2	Squad		12	10	2	0	27	3
2010	Runners-up	2nd	7	6	0	1	12	6	Squad		8	8	0	0	17	2
2014	Third place	3rd	7	5	2	0	15	4	Squad		10	9	1	0	34	5
2018	Did not qualify										10	6	1	3	21	12
2022	Quarter-finals	5th	5	3	2	0	10	4	Squad		10	7	2	1	33	8
2026	Round of 32	17th	4	2	2	0	11	5	Squad		8	6	2	0	27	4
2030	To be determined										To be determined
2034
Total	Runners-up	12/23	58	32	16	11	109	57	—		143	95	28	20	356	105

Netherlands' World Cup history
First Match	Switzerland 3–2 Netherlands  (27 May 1934; Milan, Italy)
Biggest Win	Netherlands 5–0 South Korea  (20 June 1998; Marseille, France)
Biggest Defeat	Czechoslovakia 3–0 Netherlands  (5 June 1938; Le Havre, France)
Best Result	Runners-up in 1974, 1978, 2010
Worst Result	Round of 32 in 2026

UEFA European Championship

UEFA European Championship record											Qualifying record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1960	Did not enter										Did not enter
1964	Did not qualify										4	1	2	1	6	5
1968											6	2	1	3	11	11
1972											6	3	1	2	18	6
1976	Third place	3rd	2	1	0	1	4	5	Squad		8	6	0	2	21	9
1980	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	4	4	Squad		8	6	1	1	20	6
1984	Did not qualify										8	6	1	1	22	6
1988	Champions	1st	5	4	0	1	8	3	Squad		8	6	2	0	15	1
1992	Semi-finals	3rd	4	2	2	0	6	3	Squad		8	6	1	1	17	2
1996	Quarter-finals	8th	4	1	2	1	3	4	Squad		11	7	2	2	25	5
2000	Semi-finals	3rd	5	4	1	0	13	3	Squad		Qualified as hosts
2004	Semi-finals	3rd	5	1	2	2	7	6	Squad		10	7	1	2	26	7
2008	Quarter-finals	6th	4	3	0	1	10	4	Squad		12	8	2	2	15	5
2012	Group stage	15th	3	0	0	3	2	5	Squad		10	9	0	1	37	8
2016	Did not qualify										10	4	1	5	17	14
2020	Round of 16	9th	4	3	0	1	8	4	Squad		8	6	1	1	24	7
2024	Semi-finals	3rd	6	3	1	2	10	7	Squad		8	6	0	2	17	7
2028	To be determined										To be determined
2032
Total	1 Title	11/17	45	23	9	13	75	48	—		125	83	16	26	291	99

Olympic Games Football

Olympic Games record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad
1908	Bronze medal	2	1	0	1	2	4	Squad
1912	Bronze medal	4	3	0	1	17	8	Squad
1920	Bronze medal	4	2	0	2	9	10	Squad
1924	Fourth place	5	2	1	2	11	7	Squad
1928	Round of 16	1	0	0	1	0	2	Squad
1936	Did not enter
1948	Round of 16	2	1	0	1	6	5	Squad
1952	Round of 16	1	0	0	1	1	5	Squad
1956	Did not enter
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984	Did not qualify
1988
Since 1992	See Netherlands national under-21 football team
Total	8/17	23	9	1	9	46	41	—

Since 1992, the Olympic Games has been an under-23 tournament (with three players of over 23 years of age allowed in the squad).

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
League phase / quarter-finals													Finals										RK
Season	LG	Grp	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	P/R	RK		Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad
2018–19	A	1	1st	4	2	1	1	8	4		3rd		2019	Runners-up	2	1	0	1	3	2	Squad		2nd
2020–21	A	1	2nd	6	3	2	1	7	4		6th		2021	Did not qualify									6th
2022–23	A	4	1st	6	5	1	0	14	6		1st		2023	Fourth place	2	0	0	2	4	7	Squad		4th
2024–25	A	3	2nd	8	2	5	1	18	12		6th		2025	Did not qualify									6th
Total				24	12	9	3	47	26	N/A			Total		4	1	0	3	7	9	—		2nd

FIFA Ranking Overview

The last update was on 21 December 2023. Source: The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking - Associations - Netherlands - Men's

     Worst Ranking       Best Ranking       Worst Mover       Best Mover  

Netherlands's FIFA world ranking
	Rank	Year	Games played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Best		Worst
							Rank	Move	Rank	Move
	7	1993	7	5	1	2	2	5	16	9
	6	1994	15	9	3	3	2	9	11	6
	6	1995	9	5	0	4	5	12	17	9
	9	1996	11	6	3	2	6	7	13	5
	22	1997	7	4	1	2	4	4	22	10
	11	1998	15	8	5	2	6	19	25	11
	19	1999	9	0	7	2	8	3	19	3
	8	2000	14	9	4	1	8	13	21	2
	8	2001	10	6	3	1	7	2	10	1
	6	2002	7	6	1	0	6	4	15	6
	4	2003	11	6	3	2	4	2	7	3
	6	2004	17	8	5	4	4	1	6	1
	3	2005	11	7	3	1	2	2	7	1
	7	2006	14	6	4	4	3	0	6	3
	9	2007	12	7	3	2	5	2	9	3
	3	2008	15	6	3	6	3	5	10	1
	3	2009	11	5	3	3	2	1	3	1
	2	2010	17	15	1	1	2	2	4	1
	2	2011	11	6	2	2	1	1	2	1
	8	2012	13	7	1	6	2	2	8	4
	9	2013	12	7	5	0	5	4	9	4
	5	2014	17	9	3	5	3	12	15	4
	14	2015	9	4	1	4	5	2	16	7
	22	2016	11	5	3	3	14	4	26	12
	20	2017	11	8	0	3	20	9	36	11
	14	2018	10	4	4	2	14	2	21	1
	14	2019	10	7	1	2	12	1	16	2
	14	2020	8	3	3	2	13	1	15	2
	10	2021	16	11	3	2	10	1	16	2
	6	2023	10	6	0	4	6	4	7	1

Team Honours

Global Competitions

• FIFA World Cup
  • Runners-up (3): 1974, 1978, 2010
  • Third place (1): 2014
• Olympic Games
  • Bronze medal (3): 1908, 1912, 1920

Continental Competitions

• UEFA European Championship
  • Champions (1): 1988
  • Third place (1): 1976
• UEFA Nations League
  • Runners-up (1): 2019

Awards

• World Soccer Team of the Year: 1988

Summary of Honours

Competition				Total
FIFA World Cup	0	3	1	4
Olympic Games	0	0	3	3
UEFA European Championship	1	0	1	2
UEFA Nations League	0	1	0	1
Total	1	4	5	10

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de los Países Bajos para niños