~ As we count down to the highly anticipated FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026, we take a closer look at the competing men's and women's teams ready to battle for global supremacy. In this special preview series, we profile each nation's journey to the tournament, examining their road to qualification, historic achievements, key players to watch, and the tactical minds leading them into the ultimate hockey showcase. In today’s story we take a look at the Netherlands women’s team, ranked #1 in the world.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 06.08.2026) :: The Netherlands are the reigning Olympic, World, European and FIH Hockey Pro League champions, a feat that cements their reputation as one of the most dominant teams in world sport. Since storming to Olympic glory at Paris 2024, the mighty Dutch have remained almost untouchable. They followed Olympic success by winning both the 2024–25 and 2025-26 FIH Hockey Pro League titles, either side of a record-extending 13th European crown at last August’s EuroHockey Championship in Mönchengladbach, Germany.
Their superiority is built on a potent blend of ruthless attacking, midfield control and brick-wall defensive organisation. Central to their success has been the goalscoring brilliant of Yibbi Jansen, the 2024 FIH Player of the Year. Jansen, the most feared penalty corner drag-flick on the planet, finished as the top scorer in the two most recent FIH Hockey Pro League editions and the EuroHockey Championship, netting an astonishing 40 goals across the three competitions.
The depth of Dutch talent remains remarkable. Frédérique Matla continues to deliver world-class forward play, while Anne Veenendaal provides a reassuring presence behind a formidable defence with consistently exceptional goalkeeping displays. Experienced stars blend seamlessly with rising talents, ensuring the Oranje remain comfortably ahead of the chasing pack. Can anyone stop them?
Nickname: Oranje
How they qualified: Host nation
Notable honours: 5x Olympic gold medallists (1984, 2008, 2012, 2021, 2024), 9x FIH Hockey World Cup winners (1974, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1990, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022), 6x FIH Hockey Pro League champions (2019, 2020-21, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26), 2x Hockey World League champions (2012-14, 2016-17), 7x Champions Trophy winners (1987, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2018), 13x European champions (1984, 1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2009,2011, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025).
Rank in previous WC editions: 1974 – 1st, 1976 – 3rd, 1978 – 1st, 1981 – 2nd, 1983 – 1st, 1986 – 1st, 1990 – 1st, 1994 – 6th, 1998 – 2nd, 2002 – 2nd, 2006 – 1st, 2010 – 2nd, 2014 – 1st, 2018 – 1st, 2022 – 1st
Head coach: Raoul Ehren. After winning two FIH Hockey Pro League titles (2024-25, 2025-26) either side of European Championship (2025), Ehren has made an imperious start to his tenure with the Oranje. Ehren won nine Dutch and seven European titles as head coach of Den Bosch women before enjoying a successful two-year stint with Belgium’s Red Panthers.
Quote: Raoul Ehren: “A World Cup on home soil is, of course, an incredible experience. It doesn’t happen very often, and it will probably be quite some time before it happens again. There’s nothing better than playing in a packed stadium filled with fans dressed in orange. You can feel it in every way: the excitement is building and the tournament is really coming to life. That will only continue to grow in the weeks ahead.”
One to watch: Xan de Waard. In a team of superstars, midfield playmaker Xan de Waard is perhaps the one irreplaceable player for the Oranje. The 2023 and 2025 FIH Player of the Year, double Olympic gold medallist (2020, 2024) and four-time European champion (2017, 2019, 2023, 2025) is targeting her fourth World Cup crown, following glorious campaigns in 2014, 2018 and 2022. Having recently announced her decision to step away from top-level hockey at the end of this competition, De Waard will be keen to go out on a high.
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