The total number of sports clubs in our country has fallen by 7 percent since the turn of the century, the Mulier Institute, an organization for sports research, has calculated. “In 2000, the Netherlands had approximately 28,000 sports clubs and in 2023 there will still be almost 26,000,” reports Mulier.
The strongest declines occurred between 2008 and 2013 and between 2019 and 2023. According to the institute, this may be related to the credit crisis and the corona crisis respectively.
The number of indoor football clubs fell the most, by 44 percent. This is followed by gymnastics with 21 percent, equestrian sports with 19 percent, volleyball with 16 percent and field football with 15 percent.
However, there were also sports clubs that grew, such as those for martial arts by 113 percent, dancing by 110 percent and cycling by 20 percent.
According to a spokesperson for the Mulier Institute, the number of sports associations does not say much about the number of participants.
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By: Vick ten Wolde
