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Photo - knzb.smugmug.com
The Netherlands captured one title at the men’s Europeans, it dates back to 1950. There, in Vienna, Rudy van Feggelen was the tournament’s top scorer with 35 hits, the second-best individual effort ever to Manuel Estiarte’s 36 goals from Athens 1991. The Dutch have one more medal from the Europeans, a bronze in 1938. Since that year they were regular participants, missed the Europeans only in 2008, 2010 and 2014 (and played in Group B in 1987). In past editions they usually finished between the 10th and 12th places: they were 10th in 2001, 2006, 2012 and 2018, 11th in 2003 and 12th in 1999 and 2016. However, they were dropped to 15th in Budapest 2020 after coming short in a three-way tie with Romania and Russia in the prelims. They did a bit better in the last two editions in Croatia, finished 11th both in Split and in Dubrovnik.
The Dutch are among the four nations whose men and women team both have managed to win the European titles at least once in the past (Hungary, Italy and Russia/Soviet Union are the other three).
They were regular participants at the Olympics between 1908 and 2000, missing the Games only in 1912, 1956 (boycott) and 1988. Their best efforts were two bronze medals, from 1948 and 1976. They were unable to make the cut for the last six editions.
They took part in all but one editions of the World Championships between 1973 and 1994, their best effort was a 4th place in 1982. Since Rome 1994, they had one more appearance, in 2001, finished 9th, but till date that was their last journey to the Worlds.
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