LGBT and Sport

A number of professional athletes have come out in The Netherlands, including former national women’s hockey team captain Maartje Paumen and speed skater Ireen Wüst. However, the hurdles of coming out are still high in the men’s sports world, especially in popular sports such as football and hockey. One of the few male athletes who came out is a former Dutch national team member, Thijs de Greeff. He only came out after his retirement from the national team.

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, NOS*NSF (the Dutch Olympic and Paralympic Committee) called on the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to ensure the safety of Dutch LGBT athletes. Aside from the professional level, there are openly gay and lesbian football players who are actively playing in the Netherlands.