Historic achievement: The Netherlands ranks third in the Winter Olympic medal table
The Netherlands has secured third place on the medal table at the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking its highest-ever ranking at the Games. Dutch athletes claimed ten gold medals, seven silver, and three bronze, setting a new national record for gold medals at a single Winter Olympics.
The record-breaking performance came at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Norway topped the medal standings with 18 gold medals, while the United States finished second with 12. Host nation Italy, Germany, and France followed behind the Netherlands in the overall rankings.
The Dutch team surpassed its previous best Olympic ranking of fourth place, achieved at the 1972 Winter Olympics. The ten gold medals also broke the country’s earlier record of eight golds set at the Winter Games in Sochi, Pyeongchang, and Peking. Although the overall total of 20 medals fell short of the 24 won at the 2014 Sochi Games, the gold medal tally set a new national benchmark.
All Dutch medals were earned in speed skating. On the long track, Femke Kok won gold in the 500 meters, Jutta Leerdam triumphed in the 1,000 meters, and Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong captured the 1,500 meters title. Marijke Groenewoud and Jorrit Bergsma added gold in the mass start events, strengthening the Dutch dominance.
Short track speed skating also delivered major success. Xandra Velzeboer claimed double gold in the 500 and 1,000 meters, while Jens van ’t Wout won the 1,000 and 1,500 meters. The men’s relay team secured another gold medal. Silver medals were collected across multiple events, and bronze went to Bergsma in the 10,000 meters, Kjeld Nuis in the 1,500 meters, and Jens van ’t Wout in the 500 meters short track, completing a historic Games for the Netherlands.