Netherlands men's national water polo team

The Netherlands national water polo team represents the Netherlands in men's international water polo competitions and friendly matches. The team won bronze medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics.

Netherlands

FINA code	NED
Association	Royal Dutch Swimming Federation
Confederation	LEN (Europe)
Head coach	Harry van der Meer
Asst coach	Branko Mitrović
Captain	Jorn Muller
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current	15 (as of 9 August 2021)
Olympic Games (team statistics)
Appearances	17 (first in 1908)
Best result	(1948, 1976)
World Championship
Appearances	7 (first in 1973)
Best result	4th (1982)
World Cup
Appearances	3 (first in 1983)
Best result	6th (1983, 1985)
World League
Appearances	4 (first in 2003)
Best result	6th (2003, 2025)
European Championship
Appearances	29 (first in 1927)
Best result	(1950)
Media
Website	knzb.nl
Medal record Men's water polo Olympic Games 1948 London Team 1976 Montréal Team European Championship 1950 Vienna 1938 London

Results

Medal count

Competition				Total
Olympic Games	0	0	2	2
European Championship	1	0	1	2
Total	1	0	3	4

Olympic Games

Main article: Netherlands men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics

• 1908 – 4th place^[1]
• 1920 – 5th place
• 1924 – 7th place
• 1928 – 5th place
• 1936 – 5th place
• 1948 – Bronze medal
• 1952 – 5th place
• 1960 – 8th place
• 1964 – 8th place
• 1968 – 7th place
• 1972 – 7th place
• 1976 – Bronze medal
• 1980 – 6th place
• 1984 – 6th place
• 1992 – 9th place
• 1996 – 10th place
• 2000 – 11th place

World Championship

• 1973 – 8th place^[1]
• 1975 – 7th place
• 1978 – 13th place
• 1982 – 4th place
• 1986 – 14th place
• 1994 – 8th place
• 2001 – 9th place

FINA World Cup

• 1983 – 6th place^[1]
• 1985 – 6th place
• 1995 – 7th place
• 2025 – 6th place

FINA World League

• 2003 – 6th place^[1]
• 2011 – European Preliminary round
• 2017 – European Preliminary round
• 2018 – European Preliminary round

European Championship

• 1927 – 11th place
• 1934 – 9th place
• 1938 – Bronze medal
• 1947 – 5th place
• 1950 – Gold medal
• 1954 – 4th place
• 1958 – 6th place
• 1962 – 6th place
• 1966 – 8th place
• 1970 – 5th place
• 1974 – 4th place
• 1977 – 5th place
• 1981 – 8th place
• 1983 – 6th place
• 1985 – 7th place
• 1989 – 8th place
• 1991 – 9th place
• 1993 – 8th place
• 1995 – 10th place
• 1997 – 9th place
• 1999 – 12th place
• 2001 – 10th place
• 2003 – 11th place
• 2006 – 10th place
• 2012 – 10th place
• 2016 – 12th place
• 2018 – 10th place
• 2020 – 15th place
• 2022 – 11th place
• 2024 – 11th place
• 2026 – Qualified

Team

Current squad

Roster for the 2020 Men's European Water Polo Championship.^[2]

Head coach: Harry van der Meer

No	Name	Pos.	L/R	Date of birth	Height	Weight	Caps	Club
1	Eelco Wagenaar (C)	GK	R	(1991-11-22) 22 November 1991 (age 33)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	87 kg (192 lb)	125	Polar Bears Ede
2	Kjeld Veenhuis	AR	R	(1995-01-30) 30 January 1995 (age 30)	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	88 kg (194 lb)	40	GZC Donk
3	Jorn Winkelhorst	CF	R	(1991-12-26) 26 December 1991 (age 33)	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)	116 kg (256 lb)	120	Waspo Hannover
4	Sam van den Burg	CB	R	(1997-10-25) 25 October 1997 (age 27)	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	96 kg (212 lb)	60	CN Barcelona
5	Guus van IJperen	CF	R	(1995-02-28) 28 February 1995 (age 30)	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	97 kg (214 lb)	50	GZC Donk
6	Robin Lindhout	FP	R	(1990-10-25) 25 October 1990 (age 34)	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)	107 kg (236 lb)	180	SC Quinto
7	Lars Gottemaker	W	L	(1987-07-29) 29 July 1987 (age 38)	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)	94 kg (207 lb)	180	ZPC Het Ravijn
8	Jesse Nispeling	CB	R	(1995-08-21) 21 August 1995 (age 29)	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)	105 kg (231 lb)	40	ENT Tourcoing
9	Harmen Muller	AR	R	(1995-04-13) 13 April 1995 (age 30)	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)	88 kg (194 lb)	50	FNC Douai
10	Pascal Janssen	AR	R	(1996-03-24) 24 March 1996 (age 29)	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	87 kg (192 lb)	50	UZSC Utrecht
11	Jesse Koopman	AR	R	(1993-04-04) 4 April 1993 (age 32)	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	95 kg (209 lb)	130	ENT Tourcoing
12	Thomas Lucas	CF	R	(1989-04-25) 25 April 1989 (age 36)	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)	105 kg (231 lb)	170	ZV De Zaan
13	Ted Huijsmans	GK	R	(1998-07-28) 28 July 1998 (age 27)	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	90 kg (200 lb)		ZV De Zaan

Past squads

• 1908 Olympic Games – 4th place

• Bouke Benenga, Johan Cortlever, Jan Hulswit, Eduard Meijer, Karel Meijer, Piet Ooms, and Johan Rühl.

• 1960 Olympic Games – 8th place

• Fred van Dorp, Henk Hermsen, Ben Kniest, Harry Lamme, Bram Leenards, Hans Muller, Harro Ran, Harry Vriend, and Fred van der Zwan.

• 1964 Olympic Games – 8th place

• Jan Bultman, Fred van Dorp, Henk Hermsen, Ben Kniest, Bram Leenards, Hans Muller, Wim van Spingelen, Nico van der Voet, Harry Vriend, Wim Vriend, and Gerrit Wormgoor.

• 1968 Olympic Games – 7th place

• Bart Bongers, Fred van Dorp, Loet Geutjes, André Hermsen, Hans Hoogveld, Evert Kroon, Ad Moolhuijzen, Hans Parrel, Nico van der Voet, Feike de Vries, and Hans Wouda.

• 1972 Olympic Games – 7th place

• Mart Bras, Ton Buunk, Wim Hermsen, Hans Hoogveld, Evert Kroon, Hans Parrel, Ton Schmidt, Wim van de Schilde, Gijze Stroboer, Jan Evert Veer, and Hans Wouda.

• 1976 Olympic Games – Bronze Medal

• Alex Boegschoten, Ton Buunk, Andy Hoepelman, Evert Kroon, Nico Landeweerd, Hans Smits, Gijze Stroboer, Rik Toonen, Jan Evert Veer, Hans van Zeeland, and Piet de Zwarte.

• 1980 Olympic Games – 6th place

• Stan van Belkum, Wouly de Bie, Ton Buunk, Jan Jaap Korevaar, Nico Landeweerd, Aad van Mil, Ruud Misdorp, Dick Nieuwenhuizen, Eric Noordegraaf, Jan Evert Veer, and Hans van Zeeland.

• 1984 Olympic Games – 6th place

• Johan Aantjes, Stan van Belkum, Wouly de Bie, Ton Buunk, Ed van Es, Anton Heiden, Nico Landeweerd, Aad van Mil, Ruud Misdorp, Dick Nieuwenhuizen, Eric Noordegraaf, Roald van Noort, and Remco Pielstroom.

• 1992 Olympic Games – 9th place

• Bert Brinkman, Arie van de Bunt, Marc van Belkum, Robert Havekotte, Koos Issard, John Jansen, Gijs van der Leden, Harry van der Meer, Hans Nieuwenburg, Remco Pielstroom, John Scherrenburg, Jalo de Vries, and Jan Wagenaar.

• 1996 Olympic Games – 10th place

• Arie van de Bunt, Gert de Groot, Arno Havenga, Koos Issard, Bas de Jong, Niels van der Kolk, Marco Kunz, Harry van der Meer, Hans Nieuwenburg, Joeri Stoffels, Eelco Uri, Wim Vermeulen and Wyco de Vries. Head Coach: Hans van Zeeland.

• 2000 Olympic Games – 11th place

• Arie van de Bunt, Marco Booij, Bjørn Boom, Bobbie Brebde, Matthijs de Bruijn, Arno Havenga, Bas de Jong, Harry van der Meer, Gerben Silvis, Kimmo Thomas, Eelco Uri, Wim Vermeulen, and Niels Zuidweg. Head Coach: Johan Aantjes.

• 2004 Olympic Qualifying Tournament – 5th place

• Marco Booij, Bjørn Boom, Kjell Boom, Matthijs de Bruijn, Arno Havenga, Bas de Jong, Gijs de Kock, Tjerk Kramer, Marc Nolting, Mark Siewers, Gerben Silvis, Eelco Uri, Niels Zuidweg. Head Coach: Ron de Vogel.

See also

• Netherlands men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
• Netherlands women's national water polo team