Dutch Olympic medalists meet king, queen and PM; Knighthoods given to gold winners

Dutch athletes who were awarded a medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris were received on Tuesday by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima at Huis ten Bosch, the royal family’s palace in The Hague. They group posed for a photo in front of the residence after a whirlwind day where they were also honored by Prime Minister Dick Schoof and his Cabinet member for sporting policy, Vincent Karremans.

The Olympians who won a gold medal at the Paris games were knighted for their achievement in The Hague. State Secretary Karremans and The Hague Mayor Jan van Zanen pinned the decorations on the Olympians. Athletes who were already knighted for their achievements, like rowers Tone Wieten and Koen Metsemakers, were given a statuette, the so-called 'chapeau.' Other athletes who had already been knighted were sailor Marit Bouwmeester, swimmer Sharon van Rouwendaal, and athlete Sifan Hassan.

"What an example you are!" Karremans shouted at them. "Right through the acidification, right through no desire or no energy, right through the tears. To do that together, with each other, with your coaches."

Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that the Dutch Olympians did something that few politicians can, and that is giving the Netherlands a "club feeling." He added that the whole country was "Team NL" during the games.

Schoof thinks that you can become "a bit gloomy" about the division in the country, especially in politics. But, "it is all pushed aside when the Olympic flame is lit. Then it is about our athletes."

Schoof was also present at the Games, including seeing the historic gold medal of Sifan Hassan in the marathon, after two bronze medals in the 5000 and 10,000 meters. "I will never, ever forget that," said Schoof, who is also an avid marathon runner.

At the same time, there was criticism of Schoof's presence at the Games. Critics called it hypocritical since his Cabinet's cutbacks could cost the sports sector 45 million euros. He refuted the criticism: "I was there to encourage the athletes," he said in the program Humberto à Paris.

The Netherlands won a record 15 gold medals at the Olympics in Paris. They also won seven silver medals and 12 bronze medals. The Netherlands finished in sixth place in the table of the most medals, the highest it has ever finished at the Summer Games.