I amsterdam - Capital of Sports

Sports in the city

Amsterdam and sport are connected to each other. Amsterdam is a city which is very sport minded and there are numerous ways to not only enjoy sport actively, but also passively.

Sporting events

Amsterdam annually hosts a great variety of sporting events, including national, European and world championships. During the last few years the city has played host to numerous large events such as:

•     Euro 2000 (football European Championship)
•     Champions Trophy Field Hockey 2003
•     World Championships Baseball 2005
•     Davis Cup Tennis 2006
•     European Championships Gymnastics 2007

Furthermore, there are many regular sporting events held in Amsterdam every year:

•     Jumping Amsterdam, one of the best equestrian sport events in Europe.
•     Heineken Amsterdam Sevens, rugby 7s, for all the fun of international rugby with a unique atmosphere.
•     International Rowing Regatta, international rowing contest featuring the best rowers in the world.
•     Amsterdam Tournament, a football tournament hosted by Ajax, inviting top teams from all over the world.
•     ING Amsterdam Marathon, one of the fastest marathon courses in the world.
•     Six days of Amsterdam, an international indoor cycling event.

If you want to see when you can visit these or other events, you can get more information on the Topsport Amsterdam Events Calendar on www.topsportamsterdam.nl

Top Teams

There are several Dutch teams which consider Amsterdam as their hometown. One of the most famous is Ajax, an internationally renowned football team who're based at the Amsterdam ArenA. They've won numerous national and international titles and also brought forth many superstars like Johan Cruijff, Marco van Basten and Clarence Seedorf.

In the Amsterdam Astronauts the city has one of the most successful basketball teams in the Netherlands.

Amstel Tijgers is the strongest ice hockey team in the Netherlands. In recent years they've won several national titles.

Amsterdam Hockey is the oldest field hockey club in the Netherlands, and both the male and female teams have won several national and international titles.

If you want to know when any of these teams are playing, check the events calendar of Topsport Amsterdam. For tickets see the websites of the Top Teams.

Facilities

Amsterdam is home to lots of modern training facilities and sporting accomodation, capable of hosting top matches and great sporting events.

•     Amsterdam ArenA (football)
•     Olympic Stadium (athletics)
•     Amsterdamse Bos (sports like rowing, hockey, cricket, tennis)
•     Jaap Eden IJsbanen (skating, ice hockey)
•     Honk- & Softbalcentrum Ookmeer (baseball and softball)
•     Sloterparkbad (swimming) 

Impressive sporting history

Amsterdam’s professional sporting history dates back to 1928, when the ninth Olympic Games were held in the Dutch capital. These were the first Games in which women were allowed to participate and were also the first time the Olympic torch was lit.

Since, the city has been home to numerous legendary Olympic athletes such as: Fanny Blankers Koen, four times track & field gold medalist in 1948 (London Olympics); Wim Ruska, two times gold medalist in 1972 (Munich Olympics); Ellen van Langen, 800-metre gold medalist in 1992 (Barcelona Olympics); the Golden Holland Eight Rowing with Nico Rienks, Ronald Florijn, Henk-Jan Zwolle, Michiel Bartman and Diederik Simon; Olympic volleyball champion Ron Zwerver in 1996 (Atlanta Olympics); and several golden field hockey players of the Sydney Olympics in 2000, such as Marten Eikelboom.

Nowadays Amsterdam also has many athletes playing, training and living in the city. World Champion boxer (2005) Raymond Joval; World Champion Rower Marit van Eupen (2005 & 2006); World Champion Judo (2005) Guillaume Elmont; and World Champions Sailing, Marcelien de Koning and Lobke Berkhout (2005 & 2006) consider Amsterdam as their home.

Amsterdam is also famous for its great football players from Ajax, such as the most famous Dutch football player ever Johan Cruijff, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf and Rafael van der Vaart.

Some of the best coaches of the Netherlands are also from the Dutch capital city, including: Rinus Michels, successful coach of Ajax and the Dutch national football team; Louis van Gaal, of Ajax and Barcelona; Hans Jorritsma, field hockey coach who won the world championship with Pakistan; and famous athletics coach Charles van Commenée.

The rich sports history of Amsterdam and the Netherlands can be seen in the Olympic Stadium of Amsterdam. For more information see www.olympischstadion.nl