Netherlands women's national field hockey team Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Netherlands

Association

Dutch Hockey Confederation
(Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond)

Confederation

EHF (Europe)

Head Coach

Raoul Ehren

Manager

Tynke van der Meer

Captain

Pien Sanders

Home

Away

FIH ranking

Current

(20 December 2022)

Olympic Games

Appearances

11 (first in 1984)

Best result

1st (1984, 2008, 2012, 2020, 2024)

World Cup

Appearances

15 (first in 1974)

Best result

1st (1974, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1990, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)

EuroHockey Championship

Appearances

15 (first in 1984)

Best result

1st (1984, 1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)

The Netherlands' national women's field hockey team is one of the most successful teams in the world! They are currently ranked number one by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). This amazing team has won the World Cup a record nine times, which is more than any other country. They have also earned ten Olympic medals, showing just how good they are at field hockey.

Their Amazing Wins
Meet the Team
- Current Players
- Team Coaches
Team Records
- Most Games Played
- Top Goal Scorers
Images for kids
See also

Their Amazing Wins

The Netherlands women's field hockey team has a fantastic history of winning major tournaments. They have consistently been one of the top teams globally.

World Cup Success

The team has won the Women's Hockey World Cup nine times! Their victories include:

1974 in France
1978 in Spain
1983 in Malaysia
1986 in their home country, the Netherlands
1990 in Australia
2006 in Spain
2014 in the Netherlands
2018 in England
2022 in Spain and the Netherlands

They have also finished second four times and third once. This makes them the most successful team in World Cup history!

Olympic Games Medals

The Dutch team has won many medals at the Olympic Games. They have won the gold medal five times:

1984 in Los Angeles, USA
2008 in Beijing, China
2012 in London, United Kingdom
2020 in Tokyo, Japan
2024 in Paris, France

They have also won silver medals twice and bronze medals three times.

EuroHockey Championship Wins

The team has also dominated the Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship, winning it 12 times! Some of their recent wins include:

2017 in the Netherlands
2019 in Belgium
2021 in the Netherlands
2023 in Germany

Other Big Tournament Wins

The Netherlands team has also won the Hockey Champions Trophy eight times and the FIH Hockey World League twice. They have also won the FIH Pro League five times, including the most recent 2024–25 season. These wins show their consistent strength in international field hockey.

Meet the Team

Current Players

Here are some of the talented players who are part of the Dutch training group for the 2024–25 FIH Pro League. The numbers next to their names show how many games they've played (caps) and how many goals they've scored.

Head coach: Raoul Ehren

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	GK	Anne Veenendaal	(1995-09-07) 7 September 1995 (age 29)	134	0	Amsterdam
22	GK	Josine Koning	(1995-09-02) 2 September 1995 (age 29)	134	0	Den Bosch
30	GK	Babette Backers	(2003-06-03) 3 June 2003 (age 22)	0	0	Kampong
40	GK	Sophia ter Kuile	(2002-02-16) 16 February 2002 (age 23)	0	0	HGC

3	DF	Rosa Fernig	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24)	25	0	Den Bosch
5	DF	Lisa Post	(1999-01-27) 27 January 1999 (age 26)	64	0	SCHC
9	DF	Renée van Laarhoven	(1997-10-15) 15 October 1997 (age 27)	83	3	SCHC
14	DF	Sanne Koolen	(1996-03-23) 23 March 1996 (age 29)	132	1	Den Bosch
18	DF	Pien Sanders (C)	(1998-06-11) 11 June 1998 (age 27)	144	9	Den Bosch
25	DF	Noor van den Nieuwenhof	(2004-06-11) 11 June 2004 (age 21)	4	0	Kampong
27	DF	Mikki Roberts	(2002-02-22) 22 February 2002 (age 23)	2	0	Tilburg
32	DF	Imke Verstraeten	(2005-01-11) 11 January 2005 (age 20)	2	0	Pinoké
35	DF	Pam van der Laan	(2003-09-26) 26 September 2003 (age 21)	5	0	Pinoké
36	DF	Danique van der Veerdonk	(2000-11-29) 29 November 2000 (age 24)	2	0	Den Bosch

2	MF	Luna Fokke	(2001-03-09) 9 March 2001 (age 24)	55	14	Kampong
7	MF	Xan de Waard	(1995-11-08) 8 November 1995 (age 29)	222	22	SCHC
8	MF	Yibbi Jansen	(1999-11-18) 18 November 1999 (age 25)	90	87	SCHC
10	MF	Felice Albers	(1999-12-27) 27 December 1999 (age 25)	83	31	Amsterdam
12	MF	Stella van Gils	(1999-08-04) 4 August 1999 (age 26)	18	0	Amsterdam
17	MF	Marleen Jochems	(2000-01-24) 24 January 2000 (age 25)	34	0	SCHC
20	MF	Laura Nunnink	(1995-01-26) 26 January 1995 (age 30)	205	3	Den Bosch
24	MF	Emma Reijnen	(2003-09-21) 21 September 2003 (age 21)	7	1	Den Bosch
34	MF	Eline Jansen	(2004-09-01) 1 September 2004 (age 20)	6	1	Kampong

4	FW	Freeke Moes	(1998-11-29) 29 November 1998 (age 26)	75	27	Amsterdam
15	FW	Frédérique Matla	(1996-12-28) 28 December 1996 (age 28)	149	105	Den Bosch
16	FW	Joosje Burg	(1997-07-29) 29 July 1997 (age 28)	61	27	Den Bosch
19	FW	Marijn Veen	(1996-11-18) 18 November 1996 (age 28)	65	30	Amsterdam
21	FW	Pien Dicke	(1999-08-29) 29 August 1999 (age 25)	57	22	SCHC
23	FW	Jip Dicke	(2002-07-09) 9 July 2002 (age 23)	2	0	SCHC
26	FW	Maud van den Heuvel	(2005-07-25) 25 July 2005 (age 20)	2	1	SCHC
28	FW	Trijntje Beljaars	(2004-06-04) 4 June 2004 (age 21)	5	0	SCHC
29	FW	Fay van der Elst	(1998-02-07) 7 February 1998 (age 27)	19	13	Amsterdam
33	FW	Mette Winter	(2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 22)	2	1	SCHC

Team Coaches

Many coaches have guided the Netherlands women's field hockey team over the years. Here are some of them:

1965–1974 – Jo Jurissen
1975–1977 – Riet Küper
1977–1980 – Huib Timmermans
1980–1989 – Gijs van Heumen
1989–1993 – Roelant Oltmans
1993–1994 – Bert Wentink
1994–2000 – Tom van 't Hek
2001–2008 – Marc Lammers
2008–2010 – Herman Kruis
2010–2014 – Max Caldas
2014–2015 – Sjoerd Marijne
2015–2022 – Alyson Annan
2022–2022 – Jamilon Mülders (ad interim)
2022–2024 – Paul van Ass
2024–current – Raoul Ehren

Team Records

The Netherlands team has some amazing individual player records!

Most Games Played

These players have played the most games for the team:

Minke Smabers has played 312 games.
Eva Drummond has played 266 games.
Margot van Geffen has played 265 games.
Fatima Moreira de Melo has played 258 games.
Lidewij Welten has played 247 games.

Top Goal Scorers

These players have scored the most goals for the team:

Maartje Paumen leads with 195 goals.
Fieke Boekhorst scored 128 goals.
Kim Lammers scored 123 goals.
Frédérique Matla has scored 105 goals.
Wietske de Ruiter scored 97 goals.

Images for kids

Netherlands celebrating at the 2012 Olympic Games.
A match between the Netherlands and Germany in 1960.
From the 1986 Women's Hockey World Cup: Netherlands vs. Canada. Marjolein Eijsvogel (right) misses a goal from keeper Sharon Bayes (left).
The Dutch women's team happy with their medals and cup after winning the World Cup.