The world’s sportiest nation

Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

Because we believe in the

power of sport
The power of sport is undeniable, yet so difficult to define. Sport has a magical
value that we do not find in other areas of life: it has the ability to connect
us, challenge us, and comfort us at the same time. It’s a flame that can ignite
people’s passions and, in the right circumstances, make a meaningful impact in
all of our lives.

The Netherlands has the resources, opportunities and infrastructure – at

sports halls, in the streets, on ice, gravel, or grass, in the water or in the open
countryside – to create a nurturing sporting environment which is inclusive of
all generations. In our community of athletes and supporters, skilled trainers
and coaches, loyal fans and dedicated volunteers, we create safe, healthy and
sustainable spaces that feel like home and where we can be the best version of
ourselves. It is here that we set the stage for record-breaking performances.

Together with the sports federations, we are building the foundation for this
forward- looking sports community - the foundation needed for everyone in
the Netherlands to participate in and enjoy sport. Our mission is for everyone
to discover the joy of sport: in our streets, neighbourhoods, communities and
venues; in villages, cities and towns, and as individuals, teams and as a nations.

Together, we will unleash the power of sport to build a stronger, healthier, and
happier country.

Roadmap to become the world’s sportiest nation

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Contents
Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032
y describes the shared goal, mission, beliefs,
objectives and intended impact of the Olympic
National sporting life in 2022............................................................................................................. 4 Committee of the Netherlands (NOC*NSF)

The story of NOC*NSF..................................................................................................................... 6 y describes the strategy for achieving

NOC*NSF’s objectives
Our goal........................................................................................................................................ 6
y describes the priorities in terms of mentality
Our targets.................................................................................................................................... 7 and approach

The critical success factors..............................................................................................................17 y serves as a guideline for the expenditure of the
collective budget (NLO)
Our plan.......................................................................................................................................18
y serves as a guideline for the actions and
Future changes .............................................................................................................................27 conduct of NOC*NSF as the umbrella
organisation of Dutch sport
Summary......................................................................................................................................28
y serves as a guideline for cooperation within
and beyond NOC*NSF and within and beyond
the sporting world
y provides input for government policies

The Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032 serves as

a guideline and support for NOC*NSF and its
members. Its mission is not only to inspire – it
also serves as a guideline for the philosophy and
practices of NOC*NSF, both for the 77 affiliated
sporting associations and for the procedures and
modus operandi of NOC*NSF as an organisation.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

National sporting life in 2022

The world of physical activities and organised sport in the Netherlands has and other unacceptable practices all undermining the value of sport. There
undergone rapid change in recent decades. Sporting associations continue to play are also concerns – both quantitative and qualitative – about the wellbeing of
a vital and unique role in the Dutch sporting community. In addition, the Dutch volunteers and professionals, who are under pressure to meet extremely high
sporting world has been enriched by the rise of innovative sports entrepreneurs. standards of performance in the rapidly changing world of sport.
Dutch people like to pursue a wide range of sporting activities, which are
increasingly organised and practised in hybrid formats, both formally and
informally. This might include anything from individuals playing sports in public
spaces, group physical activities classes at gyms, WhatsApp groups set up by
professional or amateur athletes, neighbourhood 3x3 basketball teams, groups of
old-age pensioners who meet regularly to play snooker at their local pub, large-
scale running and cycling events with thousands of participants, national and
international elite sports, professional football teams, Olympic, Paralympic and
non-Olympic sports, Formula 1 and last but not least, traditional amateur sports
clubs, which have always played an important role in Dutch community life. In other
words, the country has a rich and thriving culture of physical activity of all kinds.

Sport brings joy into the lives of millions of people in the Netherlands on a
weekly basis. People not only enjoy sport by engaging in physical activity
themselves, but also as supporters, volunteers and spectators of televised
sporting events. We are also seeing a growing public appreciation of the value
of sport, both in terms of its public health benefits and its role in promoting
social cohesion. Owing to the importance of sport in children’s upbringing and
development and its value as an economic driver, sport and physical activities
have come to play an increasingly important role in Dutch society and, by
implication, in government and the political sphere. In addition to having value
for its own sake, sport is also a way to create a healthy, strong and resilient
society. Yet the various risks associated with sport have also been under public
scrutiny for some time, with discrimination, threats to public safety, match fixing

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

National sporting life in 2022

Sport is an integral part of Dutch society, woven into its fabric – so much so that
social trends often carry over into the world of sport. Conversely, sport and
physical activities can also contribute to solving certain social issues. As we begin
to put this Strategic Plan into practice, we would like to call attention to a number
of social trends which play an important role in the world of organised sport and
physical activity.

The corona virus pandemic brought into stark relief the vital importance of a healthy
and resilient population, and there is a growing public interest in both physical and
mental health, both among the general public and among the political class. For
many years, we have also seen a marked increase in the number of overweight
people, lack of physical activities among the younger generations, and a prevalence
of unhealthy lifestyles, non-communicable diseases and predominantly sedentary
lifestyles. These are all among the factors driving up healthcare costs. many exurban areas hinder opportunities to build sports facilities and designate
public spaces for sporting activities. The government measures implemented to
Owing to the widening social divide, there is a strong need for the various fight climate change present an additional challenge.
segments of society to find common ground. Social isolation, job insecurity and
inequality are all pressing social issues that play into this. But remote work as The importance of ethical, inclusive and transparent practices is growing at all
the ‘new normal’ has also increased people’s need for community. We believe levels of society.
sport can play a strong role in promoting social cohesion.
There are higher standards for public conduct, and the fact that politics and
The Dutch population will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years, a sports are increasingly intertwined has put sporting organisations under pressure.
trend which is coupled with demographic ageing and a rising number of single-
person households. This has raised a number of challenges, particularly in the The impact of digitalisation on our society and the world of sport is undeniably
highly urbanised area in the west of the country. It also calls for providers to substantial. The digitalisation trend is set to continue and is creating both
make changes to the supply of organised sporting and physical activities. opportunities and risks related to data collection and alternative forms of
collaboration and organisation. When it comes to online interaction, inspiration
There is a significant public need and demand in the Netherlands for new and knowledge exchange, the lines between local, national and international
homes. The space needed for new construction and the limited accessibility of interests are becoming increasingly blurred.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

The story of NOC*NSF

The Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032 outlines the story of NOC*NSF. NOC*NSF is Our goal
an association of Dutch sporting federations, which views the evolution of sport in To maximise the power of sport in our society, we aim to become the world’s
the Netherlands from a wide perspective. Organised sport in the Netherlands faces sportiest nation. We believe this goal inspires, appeals to the imagination, brings
a number of significant challenges, and we can only address these challenges if the people together, and provides guidance. It also serves as a solid foundation for
association and the wider world of sports in the Netherlands start working together cooperation and for the integrated strategy to which we aspire, because this goal is
closely and effectively. The scope of this Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032 therefore the sum of all the different areas of focus and expertise within organised sports.
extends beyond our own association alone: we are setting goals at a national level
and translating these goals into hard, quantifiable targets. We have developed an Above all, this goal serves as a motivation for us all to get the best out of ourselves,
implementation strategy to achieve these goals and targets and will be pursuing inspired by the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin:
eight lines of action and prioritising certain efforts. We will be working together
closely as a unified association, based on a single strategy, as we do not seek to – “The important thing in life is not to triumph but to compete, not to victor
and indeed are unable to – achieve our goals and targets alone. but to combat, not to have vanquished but to have fought well, not winning
but taking part.”
NOC*NSF is leading the way when it comes to collaboration with sporting
organisations and wider society, and within these alliances we leverage the strength, We share Coubertin’s belief that performing your best and achieving your
knowledge and expertise of sporting associations and NOC*NSF. We put the maximum potential is more important than winning. This brings us step by step
interests of athletes and sporting organisations first in our philosophy and policies. closer every day to achieving our goal of becoming the sportiest nation. For us,
here’s what that means in concrete terms:

By 2032, everyone in the Netherlands, at all stages of life and all levels of
ambition, will enjoy sport on a daily basis. We will reach this goal primarily by
engaging both in individual and team sports and excelling in sports and/or
physical activities. But also, by extending the group of volunteers, professionals,
and fans in a safe, healthy and sustainable environment. The values of elite sports
will be the inspiring beacon along the way.

This overarching goal serves as the foundation for the Strategic Plan for Dutch
Sport 2032.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

Our targets
Our goal of becoming the sportiest nation by 2032 has been translated We will monitor our progress based on baseline measurements. Once a year,
into specific and quantifiable targets, each of which is, or will be, backed we will evaluate whether we are on the right track and have made sufficient
up by data. Based on the trends witnessed in recent years, and in view of progress, whether we are making an impact, and if we are still using the right
current social trends, we have set a number of ambitious yet realistic goals. strategy or if we need to adjust. This is how we remain goal-oriented and
However, several of our targets are moral driven. For example, we aim to stable, while at the same time being able to adapt to changing situations or
create a society where everyone (100% of the population) feels welcome in a rethink fewer effective strategies. We will re-evaluate not only at the end of
safe, healthy and inclusive sporting environment and where 100% of young our endeavour, but every single year.
people involved in sports have access to qualified officials, instructors,
trainers and/or coaches. We will not do it for less. We are currently drafting a working document – a living document that is
continuously revised and updated – to develop and expand on the targets.
This document details our targets and provides more information on the data
required to monitor our goals.

12 million 14 million Top 10

Dutch people engage in sport and Dutch people enjoy games, races, matches, TeamNL is one of the 10 most successful
physical activities at least 3x a week competitions and events on a weekly basis national elite sports teams in the world
as either participants or supporters

Our targets 80% 100% 100%

for 2032 of young people in the of Dutch people will feel welcome in a safe, of young Dutch people engaged in sport have
Netherlands will have good healthy and inclusive sporting environment access to an official, instructor, trainer and/or
movement skills coach who has proven skills in their field

Enjoyment of Sporting Elite sports

sport environment The Dutch public rates the inspiring and
unifying power of elite sports at 8 or above
Dutch sports lovers, volunteers, Sports lovers give their local sporting
supporters, and elite athletes rate facilities a score of 8 or above based on
their level of enjoyment in sport at 8 the variables availability, accessibility,
or above (on a 1-10 scale) affordability, sustainability and quality

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

12 million Dutch people engage in sport and

physical activities a minimum of 3x a week
Sport and physical activities are of great value to any society, and our target
is for no fewer than 12 million people in the Netherlands to engage in sport
and physical activities at least three times a week by 2032. This target is in line
with the target set by the Dutch national government of encouraging 75% of
the population to take up some form of physical activity. In addition to playing
sports, we encourage people to engage in moderate physical activity several
days a week, such as walking/hiking and cycling.

The first step in monitoring our targets is performing a baseline measurement.

For this particular target, we are using the 2019 data, i.e. before the onset of
the Covid- 19 pandemic. At the time, we did not distinguish between playing
sports and physical activities; this will be adjusted in future datasets.

In 2019, residents of the Netherlands engaged in sport:

y at least once a week: 10.2 million people (65%)
y at least twice a week: 7.3 million people (47%) at least twice a week
y at least three times a week: 5.4 million people (35%) at least three times a
week at least four times a week: 4 million people (26%)

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

14 million Dutch people enjoy games, races,

matches, competitions and events on a weekly
basis as either participants or supporters
The sporting activities available to the public, including games, matches,
races, competitions and events, are fundamental to both the practice and
enjoyment of sport. Every week, tens of thousands of sporting matches are
played across the Netherlands, thousands of people take part in sporting
events, and numerous fans and supporters enjoy their favourite sport,
whether by watching family members and friends on the field or attending
We intend to collect more data on this fundamental part of sporting
the games and matches of their favourite professional teams.
life in the Netherlands and are developing a dashboard that
will monitor how many people enjoy various sporting events as
participants or supporters every week. We can currently report the
following facts and figures (2022):
y The percentage of people in the Netherlands who keep up with
sports through various media outlets ranges from 55% to 60%. This
means that around 9.3 million Dutch people aged six and over keep
up with a sporting event through these channels once a week.
y Until 2018, the Netherlands (at 21% of the population, or 3.2
million people) had the largest number of people of any country
aged 12 and up who attended a sporting event at least once a
month.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

TeamNL is one of the 10 most successful national

elite sports teams in the world
Elite sports are valuable to society because of their ability to connect and inspire
people; they are also invaluable in achieving our targets. Accomplishments of
elite athletes and their overall excellence in sport are fundamental, as well as
being a goal in itself. We seek to be among the most successful ten countries in
the world in elite sports achievement.

Since 2014, the Netherlands has been one of the ten countries with the most
medals at Olympic Games. Furthermore, we have seen an increase in participation
in Paralympic sports since 2014, with the Netherlands position on the medial table
varies between 7 and 16. The number of medals the Netherlands has gained in
non-Olympic sports has remained stable in the recent decade.

We will explore whether there are any other indicators (i.e. in addition to the
number of medals won) which show whether TeamNL is in among the ten most
successful countries in the world when it comes to elite sports. If this is the case,
we will add these indicators to our dashboard.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

80% of young people in the Netherlands will have

good movement skills
Sport and physical activities are vital to building a physically active and healthy
generation. The foundation for a lifetime of sport and physical activities is established
at a young age: experience has shown that introducing young people to sport and Here is a selection of facts and figures about the sport
physical activities early on will make them more likely to remain physically active and physical activities habits of young people in the
throughout their lives. In addition, children’s physical activities habits at a young age Netherlands:
are a key predictor of their future lifestyle as they grow into adulthood. y More than 39% of Dutch children (aged 4 to 11) did not
meet the minimum physical activities benchmark in 2020.
However, the physical skills of young people in the Netherlands are in decline, as they y The majority of Dutch children does not meet the
do not engage in sport or physical activities enough to maintain a healthy lifestyle. standard for motor fitness established by the government.
This will need to be improved if we are to continue capitalising on the positive impact y Only 10% of children use public spaces to play sports on a
of sport and physical activities. Our target is for at least 80% of young people in the weekly basis.
Netherlands to have good movement skills. It has been established that enjoyment of
sport and physical activities is essential in getting young people to engage in regular There is currently no available indicator that gives insight
physical activity. Other key factors include motivation, self-confidence, knowledge and into how young people perceive their own movement
young people’s own perception of their movement skills/athletic ability. skills. There are several research methods that monitor
physical development among young people at different
While having good movement skills makes young people get more enjoyment out of ages; however, these do not reveal any information about
sport, we are aware that there are also other factors that contribute to this enjoyment perceived movement skills. Since perceived movement
among Dutch youth. That’s why, in defining the term ‘movement skills’, we use skills are part of the ‘physical alphabet’ and, as such, are
the comprehensive term ‘physical alphabet’. We must ensure that children acquire fundamental to a physically active, healthy generation, we
and experience the motivation, self-confidence, knowledge and physical skills (i.e. intend to collect the relevant data.
familiarity with basic forms of physical activities) required. We will initially focus on
helping children develop their fundamental movement skills, but always in relation
to the concept of ‘physical alphabet’. We are putting this into practice by adopting a
child-centred approach which will allow us to break a trend in youth sports and lay
an important foundation for facilitating a lifetime of sport and other forms of physical
activities. We will define ‘youth’ as a target demographic more closely in the Youth
Sport Development Plan.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

100% of young people engaged in sport have access

to an official, instructor, trainer and/or coach who
has proven skills in their field
Supporting young people in sport and physical activities is vital to facilitating
responsible development and enjoyment in sport. That’s why our goal for 2032
is for 100% of young people engaged in sport to have access to an official,
instructor, trainer and/or coach who has proven skills in their field and who is
committed to supporting young athletes in their development. The focus should
be on meeting young athletes’ development needs and allowing them to reach
their full potential.

There is currently no effective metric to monitor the competency of officials, instructors,

trainers and/or coaches, but we intend to develop one. Research shows that 93% of
high-level sports officials report that their educational background has served them
well in their position. They tend to refer to athletic and/or strategic training rather than
any additional qualifications in teaching or coaching. But of course, having completed a
certain programme is not necessarily an indication of that person’s skill level.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

100% of people will feel welcome in a safe, healthy

and inclusive sporting environment
A safe, healthy and inclusive sporting environment is a prerequisite for In addition to safety, we believe the sporting environment should be healthy.
enjoyment of sport. That’s why we will aim for a 100% safe, healthy and Since playing sports improves our physical fitness, why not create pleasant and
inclusive sporting environment – we will not accept anything less. In a 100% safe healthy spaces where other elements of a healthy lifestyle are encouraged as
sporting community, we ensure safe, fair and clean sports practices, based on well? We will create more facilities that people will enjoy visiting, where healthy
an approach that promotes and monitors ethical conduct. As always, prevention habits are the norm, and where young people are not taught unhealthy lifestyles.
is the best cure. We remind each other of our responsibilities if necessary, have
a system in place that allows us to report any wrongdoings safely and easily, Finally, we also aim to establish a sporting environment with a culture that is
and promote and pursue fair and diligent enforcement. We will strengthen the generally perceived as inclusive. We seek to offer everyone in the Netherlands
foundation of both amateur and professional sports by ensuring that all sporting the opportunity to experience and enjoy sports throughout their childhood
activity in the Netherlands is organised in a socially responsible manner. and adolescence. We aim to create inclusive sporting facilities offering a range
of high- quality services tailored to individual needs and requirements, where
people can find their community, feel welcome, and be valued for who they are.

If we are to effectively monitor the targets, we need to more

closely define the concept of a ‘safe, healthy and inclusive
sporting environment’. On this basis, we will then perform a more
comprehensive and detailed assessment, extending beyond people’s
general appreciation for a safe, healthy and inclusive sporting
environment as covered in the current study.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

Sports lovers, volunteers, supporters and

professionals rate their level of enjoyment in sport
at 8 or above
We firmly believe that enjoyment of sport plays a crucial role in getting and staying
involved in, and excelling in, all kinds of sporting activities. Enjoyment of sport is
essential to experiencing and leveraging its power – for sports lovers, volunteers,
We have been surveying athletes on their level of enjoyment of
supporters and professionals alike. Enjoyment of sport is fundamental.
sport for some time; this has not been to the same extent for
volunteers, supporters and professionals (our surveys of these
That’s why we want sports lovers, volunteers, supporters and professionals to
categories are less frequent and less consistent). However, we will
rate their level of enjoyment of sport at 8 or above (we will be looking at individual
be extending the scope of our surveys to include these categories.
scores).

The current rating for enjoyment in sports represents an average

for 2016 to March 2020 (owing to the onset of the Covid-19
pandemic). The average score for ‘Enjoyment of sport’ is 8.2.
‘Enjoyment of team sports’ is rated more highly (8.5), as is ‘Being
a member of a sporting association’ (8.4) and ‘Participating in
sporting events’ (8.4).

However, it is important to keep in mind that these are averages.

We would like all volunteers, sports lovers and professionals to
rate their enjoyment of sport at 8.0 or higher in every city and
town and at every sports club in the Netherlands.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

Sports lovers rate their local sporting facilities

at 8 or above based on the variables availability,
accessibility, affordability, sustainability and quality
In order to give all residents of the Netherlands the opportunity to engage in sport and physical activities throughout their lives, we
need available, accessible, affordable, sustainable and high-quality sporting facilities that meet the needs and requirements of athletes.
How athletes perceive and value their sporting facilities in terms of these categories is important here.

The local sporting infrastructure currently receives an average score

of 7.8, based on a survey covering the period from 2016 to the end
of March 2020. Individual variables such as availability, accessibility,
affordability, sustainability , and quality of sporting facilities are
currently not covered in our surveys; we are in the process of
developing a metric for this purpose.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

The public gives the inspiring and unifying power

of elite sports in addressing urgent social issues a
rating of 8 or above
We believe elite sports and the achievements of elite athletes are of great
value to Dutch society and seek to enhance this value and make it more
visible, so that the public at large can also experience and appreciate the
By and large, people in the Netherlands appreciate the public value of
unifying power of elite sports. We have developed a strategic framework
elite sports in the country – this value is related mainly to factors such
designed to increase the public value of elite sports. This includes
as happiness, enjoyment/fun, and a sense of community. While many
leveraging the power of elite sports to help address various social issues.
people in the Netherlands have a positive view of the commercial value
of elite sports, there are some concerns around the public value of
elite sports with regard to employment, inappropriate conduct and the
impact of elite sports on the environment.

However, there is currently no consistent set of indicators to measure

the public value of elite sports. This is being developed in the further
draft of Sub-Agreement 6 of the National Dutch Sports Agreement.
However, two elements are already being assessed: the performance
of Dutch athletes worldwide and the Dutch public’s perception of the
value of elite sports.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

The critical success factors

We believe not only in the power of sport, but also in the power of cooperation. In the Strategic Plan for Dutch Sport 2032, we identify the critical success
We will join forces and use our expertise to address the challenges in sport and factors which are key to achieving our goals. Having these factors in place is an
leverage the power of sport. This is also essential if we are to achieve the goal important step toward achieving our goal.
we have set, as is improving the overall quality of the sports infrastructure,
fostering an ethical and inclusive sporting culture, and substantially increasing
investment in sports.

High level of
Quality improvement Ethical and inclusive collectivity within the sector
in sport sporting culture and an integrated,
overarching approach

Cooperation with Visible and

Substantial additional
other sectors based on a measurable
financial investment
shared ambition Public value of sport

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

Our plan
This Strategic Plan outlines our implementation strategy. Based on eight lines of action, we will work on achieving our goal over the next several years. We will set
a number of priorities within each of these lines of action. The lines of action will keep us on target, while the priorities within each line of action offer flexibility in
terms of our focus; these priorities may change if the circumstances require so.

Lines of action and key issues

The first line of action ties directly into one of the critical success factors defined above:
cooperation. This line of action is a prerequisite for effectively implementing the six lines of action
representing the core duties and responsibilities of our association. Finally, there are a number of
priority issues we and other sporting organisations will be taking on together.

We will draft an action plan for each line of action and prioritised effort, and we seek to
cooperate with other organisations where necessary. Innovation always plays a role in addressing
these priorities, because we believe that an innovative approach can contribute to solving the
challenges facing organised sport in the Netherlands. The position of Dutch sports in relation
to the rest of the world also consistently plays a role in implementing the lines of action and
prioritised efforts. Our international strategy is designed to improve sport in the Netherlands for
everyone, as well as to help us achieve our goals.

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

We work together closely and effectively, both within the sporting community and beyond
We believe that cooperation within and beyond our association and within and beyond the
sporting world is one of the fundamentals of the Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032– we simply do
not want to and cannot achieve our goal by ourselves.

With around 40,000 providers of sporting facilities and activities (including clubs, businesses
and institutes) and hundreds of support organisations (including sporting federations, event
management companies, local sports enterprises and sporting services, professional sports
teams, and interest groups), organised sport in the Netherlands is nothing if not varied. Effective
cooperation between the various organisations benefits both sport practitioners and providers of
sporting activities and facilities. Together, we are able to achieve our goal of creating a climate
in the Netherlands where everyone can enjoy sports on a daily basis and where issues such as
public health, safety and sustainability can be effectively addressed. This requires cooperation on
every level, with each partner using their own strength and expertise: within our association and
within organised sport as well as with government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare
organisations and the business community.

Programmes such as Gezonde Generatie (‘Healthy Generation’) and the Rijke Schooldag (‘Bright
New School Day’) talent development and enrichment programme for primary and secondary
school pupils (designed to reduce inequality of opportunity) are good examples of such initiatives,
as are the regular meetings held between various representative sporting organisations.

Long-term, in-depth partnerships with

Scaling up cooperation within NOC*NSF Scaling up cooperation with government
educational institutions, the healthcare
and other sporting bodies authorities
sector and the business community

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

We strengthen the organisational power of sporting organisations on an individual level

Sporting organisations play a key role in a strong sporting infrastructure. They need the
capabilities and high-quality facilities to support sports clubs and encourage people to engage in
sport and physical activities. An individualised approach is essential when it comes to providing
support, due to different needs in different parts of the country. This line of action focuses mainly
on the local organisational strength of sports clubs, support networks, platforms and sporting
organisations (including sports federations). Self-sufficiency and futureproofing are key when it
comes to strengthening these organisations. In order to achieve this objective, close cooperation
with local authorities, local sporting companies, sports services and other relevant stakeholders
is essential. How the duties and responsibilities are divided in this process is a key strategic issue,
the aim being to work together on providing inspiration and support to sports clubs.

Strengthening organisational power and the distribution supply Professionalising and structuring
chain both locally and nationwide support to clubs

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

We are committed to ensuring that there are a sufficient number of competent volunteers
and professionals working in organised sport
Volunteers and professionals are a driving force in organised sport, and they are expected to
perform at an even higher level as a result of the growing complexity and the importance of sport
as a public good. Both the number of volunteers and professionals and the quality of the human
capital merit attention. We will explore these issues in this line of action and will prioritise training
and supporting volunteers, creating more competitive and appealing paid jobs in the sporting
world, and improving the skills of professionals in the operating organisations.

More competitive and appealing paid Improving the skills of professionals in

Training and supervising volunteers
jobs in sport operating organisations

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

We organise an appealing mix of sporting activities, including games, matches, races

and events
Organising events is one of the main duties of sporting federations and sports clubs; in
doing so, they rely on a steady stream of exciting and appealing matches, games and races,
competitions (at various levels) and other kinds of gatherings. It is important to offer
events and activities which have a strong appeal. Improving flexibility and diversity is a key
focus throughout. Using an athlete-centred approach, we are currently developing a sports
programme that will appeal to a variety of users.

Since it is also important that sporting events and activities meet the needs of supporters,
we encourage the organisation of prestigious professional sporting events and support
amateur and professional sports clubs in putting on competitions. We are working with sports
clubs, federations and local authorities on developing strong competitions and promoting
innovation. We promote expertise among amateur and professional sporting associations so
they can help build a strong national competition. Finally, we help amateur and professional
sports associations to raise their profiles by organising events and using social media.

Optimising sporting events and Organising exciting and appealing

Organising prestigious and high-profile
activities: bringing supply more in line games, matches, races, competitions
professional sporting events
with demand at all levels and events for participants

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

We foster an optimum and successful professional sports climate in the Netherlands

In order for the Netherlands to be ranked among the ten highest-performing sporting nations
in the world, we must foster an optimum and successful professional sports climate across the
country. This is the only way we can leverage the power of elite sports to address social issues
and inspire the Dutch public to turn the Netherlands into the sportiest nation. That’s why we
will be offering high-potential training programmes (including for professional athletes) based
on sound educational principles, through which we provide maximum support to our athletes.
We recognise that professional athlete is a full-time occupation like any other and provide
appropriate infrastructure for elite athletes, both during their professional sports career and
afterwards, as they move into other professional fields. TeamNL has gained global recognition,
and in order to continue to operate at this high level in the future, it is important to develop a
future-proof strategy and a sustainable financing model.

Creating wider recognition of

Establishing a future strategy for Organisation of high-potential and
professional athlete as a full-time
professional sports along with the high-quality professional sports and
occupation and ensuring appropriate
associated funding model training programmes
infrastructure and remuneration

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

We are building accessible sporting facilities and public spaces conducive to sport
Widely available and accessible sporting facilities are of significant public value. We remain faced
with the challenge of making sporting facilities more sustainable and suitable for activities such as
gym classes and cultural activities. The term ‘sporting facilities’ can refer both to the availability,
sustainability and quality of outdoor and indoor sports facilities and to public spaces conducive to sport.

Public sports facilities invite people to play games and sports and engage in physical activities, in
addition to offering training and various competitions. They play a role in improving public health,
social cohesion and enjoyment of sports. Investments in sustainability will also pay off more quickly if a
sporting facility (whether amateur or professional) has a wider role in society.

In addition to promoting accessible and sustainable sporting facilities, we are also committed to
promoting sport in public spaces. A growing number of people engage in sport and physical activities in
public outdoor spaces, and it is important for all residents of the Netherlands to be able to play sports
and engage in physical activities throughout their lives and have access to the appropriate facilities. With
public spaces becoming busier overall, it is important that we work together to facilitate welcoming,
accessible and safe sporting facilities – this is the only way we can ensure that people get more
enjoyment out of sport.

Maximising the potential of sporting facilities (both amateur and Promoting the interests of, and creating,
professional) to make them accessible and profitable public spaces conducive to sport

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

We promote the value of sport and physical activities for all

We strongly believe in the value of sport and physical activities and are aware of the impact sport
can make in people’s everyday lives, as well of the inspiring and unifying effect of professional
sports on athletes and non-athletes alike. If we are to achieve our goal, it is important that we all
share this belief in the power of sport.

Campaigns and strategic communications are key to making people aware of the value of sport
and physical activities. Through various campaigns and promotions, we are working closely with
sporting organisations and wider society to raise awareness of the power of sport and physical
activities. We are also changing people’s behaviour by encouraging them to play sports more often,
as well as creating a safe, healthy and sustainable sporting infrastructure. This includes promoting
and showcasing the power of elite sports to inspire people and bring them together.

Tempting and inspiring athletes and Campaigns which show that physical
Leveraging the inspiring and unifying
non-athletes alike through targeted activities are a natural part of everyday
power of elite sports
marketing and advertising campaigns life

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

Innovation in our priority areas

In addition to focusing on close and effective cooperation and on our core duties, we have defined
a number of priority issues for sporting organisations to address. This includes introducing
more sustainable practices in sport, fostering an inclusive, ethical and safe sporting culture and
optimising the use of data and data management in sport. We plan to introduce innovations in these
areas in the coming years and make progress by adopting an integrated approach.

We are working on drafting a widely supported action plan to make sport more sustainable. A
widely supported and comprehensive approach is also important when it comes to building an
inclusive, ethical and safe sporting culture. This should be based on the use of collective resources
where possible, and a theme-based, in- depth, and local approach when desired or necessary.

For sports clubs, sporting federations, elite sports programmes and local authorities in the
Netherlands, a data-based approach is key to creating efficient and evidence- based sports
policies. High-quality source data and clear data definitions across the sporting community are
vital to maximising the use of data and data management in sport. This means the current data
products and services will be continued and further developed and that we will take the next step in
supporting the community when it comes to data and data management. This includes products and
services, data infrastructure in sport, and the knowledge and organisational levels.

Inclusive, ethical and safe

Making sport more sustainable through Maximising the use of data and data
sporting culture, including an ‘ethics in
a widely supported action plan management in sport
sport’ plan

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

Future changes
We will achieve results by setting clear goals and hard targets and working on On an individual level, we will also experience the power of sport and physical
the basis of a single, integrated implementation strategy. We firmly believe that activities, feeling mentally and physically fit, resilient and flexible. We engage
this approach will have a visible impact on society. By aspiring to become the in the sporting activities that suit our needs and feel safe and welcome in the
sportiest nation, the sporting community will have an impact on society, sporting community. We have accessible and affordable sporting facilities in our
including a social impact, an economic impact and an impact on sports related communities, and since we are improving our movement skills, we can use our
aspects. bodies more skilfully and efficiently. We are proud of the accomplishments of
our elite athletes, who, in addition to making public appearances at various
sporting and related events, help to improve social cohesion. Above all, we
enjoy playing sports every day.

In other words, we leverage and experience the power of sport in our society.

We feel mentally and We feel safe and

We experience enjoyment We practise the sports
physically fit, resilient welcome in the sporting
of sport on a daily basis that suit our needs
and flexible community

We are proud of our We learn how to use our We have accessible and We perceive greater
country’s successes in body more skilfully and affordable sporting facilities social cohesion in our
elite sports efficiently in our communities communities

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 Dutch Sport’s Strategic Plan 2032

Summary
In publishing this Strategy for Dutch Sport 2032, NOC*NSF is leading the The overall scope of this Strategy is also undeniably greater. As we firmly believe
movement towards progressive change in organised sport in the Netherlands. that enjoyment of sport plays a vital role in getting and remaining involved
Through our belief in the power of sport and the power of cooperation, we in, and achieving excellence in, all kinds of sporting activities, nurturing this
are broadening the scope of our association to extend to society as a whole, enjoyment is a central part of our strategy. We will increase our focus on sport
and have developed an integrated plan and strategy. The professionals in and physical activities and would like to see these become a natural part of our
our organisation all work closely together, based on their individual roles and everyday lives (this is in line with the Dutch government’s current guidelines for
expertise. However, we do not seek to – and, indeed, cannot – achieve our physical activities). Volunteers, professionals and supporters are also explicitly
goal without the support of others, as this goal extends beyond the world of mentioned in the plan, as they are essential to sport and they must be able
organised sport. That’s why we are making a point of seeking partnerships both to enjoy involvement in sporting activities, as well. The role of competitions,
within and outside the sporting community, scaling up cooperation in general games, matches and events is clearly defined in the plan, with a renewed
sport-related areas and improving our expertise in sport-specific areas. Using understanding of their importance for people’s involvement in sport, the
specific and quantifiable targets will make it possible to monitor progress. The value of elite sports, and in terms of the opportunities they present for social
eight lines of action provide direction and support and offer the opportunity to interaction. In addition to the accomplishments of our world-class athletes,
set priorities and home in on specific issues. the value of these achievements to society is not to be underestimated. The
benefit of winning prestigious medals is also highlighted. Finally, the areas of
safety, inclusivity and sustainability – which, combined, constitute our licence to
operate – are highlighted.

We are using our collective strength and expertise to build a future-proof

sporting community. In our philosophy and policies, we always put the interests
of athletes and sporting organisations first.

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We leverage and experience the power of sport

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