As they head this year for their eighth consecutive and 14th overall appearance at the FIVB World Championship, the Netherlands will hope to build on the success of 2015. After winning bronze at the FIVB World Grand Prix in Bangkok, the Netherlands capped the year capped with a silver at the European Championship. A memorable season was followed by an impressive fourth place finish at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and another silver at the 2017 European Championship.
Rio 2016 was the Netherlands' best Olympic performance. In their other two appearances, at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996, they finished sixth and fifth respectively.
The Netherlands have also enjoyed success in the European Championships, winning gold in 1995, silver in 1991, 2009, 2015 and 2017, and taking the bronze in 1985.
The Netherlands’ biggest success in the FIVB World League came in 2007 when, after finishing the Intercontinental Round in fifth place, the team stormed through the Final Six in Ningbo undefeated to claim gold. They won another medal in 2016, after edging Russia 3-2 in the bronze medal match.
The Dutch made it through to the Final Six of the inaugural FIVB Volleyball Nations League this year, narrowly missing out on the medals and finishing fifth.
The Netherlands’ best World Championship ranking so far is seventh place (1998), but after continued success over the last three years, fans will be hoping for this team to cause an upset and compete for a podium place.