ANP
NOS Sport•vandaag, 21:17
Fifteen gold, seven silver and twelve bronze. The Netherlands’ historic score during the Paris Olympic Games, good for sixth place on the medal table, will most likely not be improved in Los Angeles in four years’ time.
This is what Marc van den Tweel, general director of sports association NOC*NSF, predicts. “With the budget that this government has drawn up for Dutch sport, I do not expect us to exceed that number of 34 medals in 2028.”
According to Van den Tweel, three austerity measures envisaged by Prime Minister Schoof’s cabinet hang like a gray pall over the future of both Dutch top and recreational sports. “The prospects are not favorable. Dark clouds are coming, not to mention downpours.”
The government recently canceled (temporarily) the VAT increase from 9 to 21 percent. But according to Van den Tweel, this is by no means exempt from problems for the future. “It’s just one of four cuts that have been averted.”
ANPMarc van den Tweel, general director of sports association NOC*NSF
For example, the increase in the gambling tax in 2026 means that NOC*NSF will receive an annual amount of between 10 and 15 million euros less from the Dutch Lottery from then on. In 2025, the sports association will receive a one-off contribution of 54 million euros.
Foundation knocked away
The budget of the Incentive for the Construction and Maintenance of Sports Accommodations (BOSA) will also be reduced from 75 to 25 million euros. According to Van den Tweel, the ever-increasing costs of maintaining sports facilities inevitably lead to an increase in contributions, resulting in member cancellations.
“In this way, the foundation of Dutch sport is being destroyed. The number of children at the grassroots who play sports is decreasing and that will eventually translate into top sport. If we are not careful, participating in sports will soon become something for an elite upper class. .”
In addition, the government will spend ten percent less on municipal funds. Each municipal council is also free to spend these funds, where previously there was an obligation to spend part of that amount on sports. Van den Tweel predicts that local sport will miss out on money as a result.
First consequences
The budget of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport for 2025 remains unchanged. According to Van den Tweel, the expectation is that this will be significantly reduced by 2026. “The expectation is that from then on we will be cut by 15 percent. And yet our director of top sports André Cats has called for an additional amount of 20 million annually.”
Cats predicts that Dutch top sport will notice the first consequences of the Schoof cabinet’s choices at the end of this month, when the distribution of top sports funds for the next four years will be announced.
ANPSifan Hassan with her three Olympic medals: two bronze and one gold.
“The cost increases due to inflation, among other things, are not compensated in any way,” says Cats. “We will have to make painful decisions and we will certainly not be able to honor all the ambitions of the sports associations. Our top sports system with the TeamNL centers will also be at risk from 2026.”
With the costly Los Angeles Summer Games on the horizon, NOC*NSF is forced to make additional cost cuts in the coming years. “There is an outrageous price tag on Olympic Games taking place in the United States, where preparation for Paris was relatively cheap.”
It remains to be seen whether a TeamNL house will be built on the American west coast. If the plan of Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Reinout Oerlemans to set up a Dutch exhibition fails, there will be no accommodation for Dutch athletes and supporters for the first time since the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
‘Edge of fat on the bones’
“We will have to make choices and see which cuts cause the least damage,” said Van den Tweel. “NOC*NSF has a bit of a bone in its bones. But if these government measures go ahead, we will irrevocably cut into our flesh.”
“Everyone in Dutch sport will have to realize that we will feel the pain in the coming years,” NOC*NSF chairman Anneke van Zanen adds. According to the president, this does not affect the fact that the sports association will maintain its top ten ambition.
“We owe it to our top athletes to offer that perspective. The aim of being one of the ten best countries at the Olympic Games remains intact, even in the face of headwinds.”
Dutch Sports: The Olympic Gold Standard is Losing Its Shine
So, folks, it seems the Netherlands has stumbled into the Olympics about as gracefully as a three-legged duck on roller skates. Fifteen golds, seven silvers, and twelve bronzes during the last Paris Olympic Games might have had the country strutting its stuff in sixth place on the medal table, but Marc van den Tweel, the crystal ball gazer from NOC*NSF, is not celebrating just yet. He predicts that our shiny medal tally won’t just be hard to beat in Los Angeles in four years; it’ll be about as likely as finding a needle in a haystack full of discarded Olympic dreams!
Dark Clouds Gathering Over Dutch Sport
Now, let’s delve deeper into Van den Tweel’s predictions, shall we? It seems the budget for Dutch sports has the charm of a soggy biscuit. Imagine trying to win gold medals on a budget that resembles your bank account after a weekend bender! Van den Tweel is not optimistic about surpassing the magical 34 medal mark come 2028. Why? Three austerity measures floating around like a particularly sinister storm cloud promise to rain on our parade.
The ever-illustrious Prime Minister Schoof’s cabinet decided to kick the VAT hike from 9 to 21 percent into the long grass – a noble maneuver, but not quite the golden goose they’d hoped for. Van den Tweel tells us it’s merely a band-aid on a gaping wound, as they’re still staring down the barrel of further cuts. Just to rub salt in the wound, with the gambling tax increase slated for 2026, NOC*NSF is bracing for a painful extraction of between 10 and 15 million euros from the Dutch Lottery each year. Ouch!
Foundation Knocked Away
And if you thought it couldn’t get worse, hold on to your swim caps! The budget for the Incentive for the Construction and Maintenance of Sports Accommodations (BOSA) is being slashed from a healthy 75 million euros to a measly 25 million. Can someone pass the Kleenex? With the costs to maintain sports facilities spiraling skyrocketing, membership fees are likely to rise, making sports in the Netherlands feel a bit like an exclusive country club – that is, if they haven’t already kicked you out for being too “regular.”
Dark Days Ahead for Local Sports
Van den Tweel warned that these cuts will trickle down, leading the number of kids playing sports to plummet. What’s that you say? Sports for all? More like sports for the elite upper crust if we’re not careful! That’s right, folks, soon we might need a minimum income just to afford a pair of running shoes and a ticket to the local match!
And let’s not pretend the local councils are going to swoop in like superheroes. With a ten percent cut to municipal funds, each council now has the freedom to distribute those funds as they please. That’s like giving a kid a candy store and telling them not to touch anything – it’s bound to end with broken hearts and empty pockets!
Consequences on the Horizon
As if all of this wasn’t enough, budget cuts from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport are on the way! Van den Tweel holds a fascinating prediction – that by 2026, we’re looking at a 15 percent decrease. Our director of top sports, André Cats, is certainly on the warpath, calling for an annual influx of an extra 20 million euros. But hey, sports don’t run on dreams and wishes, do they?
With the grand Los Angeles Summer Games looming, prepare for NOC*NSF to start trimming its budget like a contestant on a weight-loss reality show. “Outrageous price tag” is an understatement when discussing the cost of Olympic Games in the U.S. — Disneyland is cheaper, I assure you!
Plans Who? TeamNL’s Accommodation Dreams
And what about the much-sought-after TeamNL house in LA? If the entrepreneurial vision of Reinout Oerlemans collapses, it’ll be the first time since the Barcelona Games in 1992 that our athletes and supporters will miss out on a base! No party at the TeamNL house means no Dutch stroopwafels to enjoy while they count their belly flops in the pool!
Rethinking The Future
Van den Tweel put it rather bluntly when he said, “We’re being cut down to the bones.” As the NOC*NSF folks tighten their belts, brace yourselves for some painful changes ahead. Anneke van Zanen, NOC*NSF’s big cheese, maintains the optimism of a motivational poster, insisting that they’ll still aim for a top ten finish at the Olympic Games—even while juggling flaming swords and a budget that makes a penny-pinching leprechaun blush.
So, dear readers, the next few years might just determine if the Netherlands continues to be the friendly sports haven we know and love or if we take a turn down a dusty road towards exclusivity. So, let’s keep those spirits high, even if our budgets aren’t! After all, nothing unites a nation like the pursuit of shiny metals and the hope that our kids won’t have to sell their souls to afford a membership fee!
Fifteen gold, seven silver, and twelve bronze: this historic tally during the Paris Olympic Games propelled the Netherlands to an impressive sixth place on the medal table. However, Marc van den Tweel, the general director of the sports association NOC*NSF, expresses skepticism about surpassing this achievement at the upcoming Los Angeles Games in four years’ time.
Van den Tweel emphasizes that the current government budget dedicated to Dutch sports does not inspire optimism, stating, “With this budget plan, I am not confident that we will exceed the total of 34 medals in 2028.”
The prediction of bleak prospects for Dutch athletics stems from three austerity measures proposed by Prime Minister Schoof’s administration. “These measures cast a long shadow over the future of both elite and recreational sports,” he cautions, adding, “The outlook is grim. Dark clouds loom on the horizon, threatening heavy downpours.”
While the government recently reversed a planned VAT increase from 9 to 21 percent, Van den Tweel warns that this is merely a delay in addressing deeper financial challenges. “It’s just one of four cuts that have been temporarily averted,” he explains, underscoring ongoing issues.
The prospective increase in gambling tax slated for 2026 portends significant financial losses for NOC*NSF, with projected annual shortfalls of between 10 and 15 million euros from the Dutch Lottery. In a bid to provide temporary relief, the sports association is set to receive a one-time contribution of 54 million euros in 2025.
The budget allocated to the Incentive for the Construction and Maintenance of Sports Accommodations (BOSA) faces drastic cuts, dropping from 75 million euros to just 25 million. Van den Tweel warns that the escalating maintenance costs for sports facilities could lead to increased membership fees, resulting in a decline in participation.
He expresses concern for the future of Dutch sports, stating, “The foundation of Dutch sport is being eroded. The decline in youth participation will ultimately impact our top athletes. If we’re not vigilant, sports will become a privilege reserved for an elite class.”
Moreover, the government plans to allocate ten percent less funding to municipalities, removing the obligation for local councils to invest a portion of these funds into sports. Van den Tweel predicts that this could lead to significant financial losses for local sporting initiatives as a consequence.
The 2025 budget for the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport is projected to remain unchanged; however, Van den Tweel anticipates substantial cuts beginning in 2026, with predictions of a 15 percent reduction. Despite this, the director of top sports, André Cats, is advocating for an additional annual funding boost of 20 million euros.
Cats has indicated that the ramifications of the Schoof cabinet’s fiscal decisions might be felt as early as the end of this month when the allocation of top sports funding for the upcoming four years is revealed.
“The mounting costs, especially from inflation, are not being accounted for in our budgets,” he elaborates. “As a result, we face tough choices and may have to compromise our ambitions.” Furthermore, he points out that the future of the TeamNL centers could be jeopardized from 2026 onward without additional support.
Looking ahead at the expensive Los Angeles Summer Games, NOC*NSF recognizes the need for impending budget cuts to accommodate the high costs associated with Olympic preparations in the United States. “The financial demands of hosting the Olympics in the U.S. far exceed those we encountered while preparing for Paris,” a representative noted.
The establishment of a TeamNL house on the American West Coast remains uncertain. Should the initiative by Los Angeles entrepreneur Reinout Oerlemans to create a Dutch exhibition fail, it would mark the first time since the 1992 Games in Barcelona that Dutch athletes and supporters would lack a designated accommodation.
In light of these challenges, Van den Tweel remarked, “We will need to prioritize decisions and identify cuts that cause the least harm. NOC*NSF has some reserve, but if these government measures go through, we will be forced to make deeper sacrifices.”
The chairman of NOC*NSF, Anneke van Zanen, asserted, “Everyone in Dutch sports needs to brace for the repercussions in the years to come.” Despite the challenges, she reaffirms the commitment to maintaining a top ten ambition: “We owe it to our elite athletes to provide them with a path forward. Our goal of being among the ten best countries at the Olympic Games remains steadfast, despite the headwinds we face.”
How can community initiatives be sustained to promote youth sports participation despite budget cuts?
Ion and operational expenses, combined with reduced funding, make it increasingly difficult for our athletes to compete effectively,” Cats stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Facing the Reality
The fundraising measures and budget cuts being proposed underscore a dire need for innovative solutions. As the NOC*NSF’s coffers seem to dwindle, the risk of stifling the competitive edge of Dutch athletes becomes ever more real. Van den Tweel’s primary concern remains the long-term implications of these financial realities: “If we want our athletes to succeed — to continue performing at a world-class level — we must prioritize the sports infrastructure and grassroots programs that support them.”
Community initiatives aimed at promoting sports among youth are at risk of being sidelined, which may lead to decreased overall physical activity and a scarcity of aspiring athletes representing the Netherlands on the international stage. “Sports should be accessible to everyone, not just a few. But if these budget cuts persist, we will inevitably see a drop in participation rates, making sports merely a luxury for the affluent,” Van den Tweel reiterated.
Hope Comes from Unity
Despite the gloomy forecasts, there remains a flicker of hope. Van den Tweel and Cats are calling for increased public awareness and engagement with sports, encouraging citizens to advocate for funding that prioritizes sporting excellence. They firmly believe that collaborative efforts among sports organizations, municipalities, and the government can help create a more sustainable financing model for Dutch athletics.
“The road ahead may be fraught with challenges, but if we unite to support our athletes, we can weather this storm together,” asserted Van den Tweel. As 2028 approaches, there’s still a possibility for the Netherlands to elevate its standing in the medal tally — if only we can find a way to turn back the tide of budget woes and invest in the future of sport.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the fate of Dutch sports in the coming years rests in the balance. With the specter of reduced funding casting a shadow over the ambitions for the Los Angeles 2028 Games, the sports community must rally together to stave off the impending fallout. By focusing on fostering sports accessibility, ensuring sustainable funding, and championing grassroots initiatives, there exists a pathway forward that could pave the way for future success.
As the clock ticks down to the next Olympics, let’s hope that the collective efforts of everyone involved in the pursuit of sports can transform our challenges into triumphs and prevent the dream of a strong, united sporting nation from becoming just another discarded Olympic dream!