Sport in the Netherlands 2009

Sport is a popular pastime in the Netherlands; More than 10 million people take part in at least one sport. To do this, they can choose from more than 27,000 non-profit sports clubs, or more than 7,200 commercial providers such as fitness centres or riding stables. Among the most popular sports are football, swimming, cycling, fitness training and running. Most sports clubs use volunteers. A total of 2 million hours per week are worked by volunteers for sports clubs, the equivalent of 52,000 full-time jobs. In addition, all sports organisations together employ a total of 36,000 full-time paid staff.

Internationally, the Netherlands can boast a number of exceptional sporting performances at the highest level, during Olympic Games or World Championships. Many people enjoy themselves by attending matches in a stadium or by watching them on television.

In this publication the Netherlands Institute for Social Research/SCP and the W.J.H. Mulier Institute have selected the most notable data on sport in the Netherlands in order to give the reader a picture of the Dutch sporting landscape.