Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond

What Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond does

Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond (KNHB) is the national governing body for field and indoor hockey in the Netherlands, headquartered in Utrecht at the DeWeerelt van Sport complex. Founded in 1898 and holding Royal designation, KNHB organizes competitions across field and indoor hockey, certifies and supports hundreds of affiliated clubs, manages the Dutch national teams (Oranje Dames and Oranje Heren, plus youth and development squads), and delivers education and certification programs for coaches, technical managers, and referees. The organization serves individual hockey players, club administrators, technical officials, national team athletes, and non-member hockey enthusiasts reached through its Hockey Foundation outreach initiative.

KNHB operates an integrated digital ecosystem comprising KNHB.nl (the institutional website for administrators and officials, featuring the Kai AI assistant for knowledge retrieval), Hockey.nl (the fan and community news platform), the Hockey App (mobile application), and the MijnHockey single sign-on member environment with the MijnHockeyService club administration module launched May 2026. The federation integrates with three approved member administration packages — LISA, AllUnited, and PSD — for club data exchange, and operates Flexhockey as a flexible, non-membership booking channel. Product launches in the 2025-2026 window include PSD integration (December 2025), a major website redesign with the Kai AI beta (March 2026), and MijnHockeyService (May 2026).

KNHB's revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring membership fees paid by affiliated clubs via the integrated member administration platforms; corporate sponsorship and partnerships with core partners including Rabobank (since 1996), Adidas (since 1999), DHL (since 2022, extended), HelloFresh, ONVZ, Deloitte, and Staatsloterij (main TeamNL sponsor from July 2025); event revenue from organizing competitions and major international events including the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 hosted at Wagener Stadion in Amstelveen; and TeamNL-related partnership revenue distributed through NOC*NSF. The organization is independently governed under a board and general assembly structure, is not venture-backed, and operates as a non-profit sports federation.

Name

Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond

Legal name

Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond

Website

https://knhb.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond (KNHB) is the Royal Dutch national governing body for field and indoor hockey, founded in 1898, organizing competitions, supporting hundreds of affiliated clubs, managing the Oranje national teams, and operating an integrated digital ecosystem including KNHB.nl, Hockey.nl, MijnHockey, and the Kai AI assistant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Federation Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD), Professional Sport Governing Bodies & League Sanctioning Authorities (MPAKAFAE)

Keywords

• National hockey federation
• Field hockey governance
• Competition organization services
• Club membership services
• Sports federation operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: KNHB receives membership data and fees from affiliated hockey clubs through their club packages (LISA, AllUnited, PSD). Clubs pay membership dues to the association.
2. Sponsorship and Partnerships: Commercial partnerships with official partners including Rabobank (shirt sponsor, main supporter), adidas (equipment sponsor), DHL, HelloFresh, ONVZ, Staatsloterij, and Deloitte. These partnerships provide financial support and in-kind services.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue from organizing major events including WK Hockey 2026, KNHB Kennislab, and other competitions. Includes ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and event sponsorship.
4. TeamNL Partnership Revenue: Staatsloterij contributes to Dutch sports through NOC*NSF, benefiting hockey sport development at both elite and grassroots levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

KNHB governs field and indoor hockey in the Netherlands by organizing national competitions, certifying and supporting affiliated hockey clubs, delivering education and certification programs for coaches and referees, and managing the Dutch national teams (Oranje Heren, Oranje Dames, and youth teams). The federation operates an integrated digital ecosystem including KNHB.nl, Hockey.nl, the Hockey App, and the MijnHockey member portal with MijnHockeyService for club administration, and hosts major events including the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Product overview

The Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond (KNHB) operates a multi-platform digital ecosystem for Dutch field hockey governance, competition management, and member services. The core portfolio consists of KNHB.nl (the main website for administrators and officials), Hockey.nl (the fan-facing news and content platform), and the Hockey App (mobile application combining content from both). These are complemented by MijnHockey (member portal with single sign-on) and MijnHockeyService (service module for club administration tasks). The KNHB also supports three third-party member administration packages—LISA, AllUnited, and PSD—that integrate with KNHB systems for club data management. Key features include a Club Finder tool, Match Center, competition management, education programs, national team coverage (Oranje), and the KNHB Kennislab knowledge platform. An AI assistant named Kai provides knowledge retrieval functionality for website users.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Oranje Dames: Dutch women's national hockey team (TeamNL)
• Oranje Heren
• MijnHockey
• MijnHockeyService
• KNHB Kennislab

Products and services

• KNHB.nl Institutional Website The main institutional website of KNHB targeting administrators, volunteers, trainers, coaches, referees, and club officials. Provides information on competitions, club support, education, clubs, Oranje national teams, organizational details, and integrates the Kai AI assistant for content search.
• Hockey.nl News and Community Platform Platform for hockey players, prospective hockey players, and fans, providing hockey news, match updates, inspiration, and information for people seeking a team sport. Also includes newsletter subscription and links to the Hockey App.
• Hockey App Mobile application combining content from KNHB.nl and Hockey.nl. Provides live match updates, hockey news, and fan-oriented content for hockey supporters, available on App Store and Google Play.
• MijnHockey Member Portal Personal hockey environment for KNHB members providing single sign-on across KNHB platforms. Players, volunteers, and club administrators are recognized faster and avoid re-authentication on each platform.
• MijnHockeyService Club Administration Portal Service portal within MijnHockey for hockey players, volunteers, and clubs. Enables processes such as adjusting club data, rescheduling matches, applying for dispensation, requesting score adjustments, and posting job vacancies. Initially available for chairmen, secretaries, club managers, webmasters, and match secretaries.
• KNHB Competities (Field and Indoor Hockey Competitions) Competition organization services covering the KNHB field hockey competition (veldcompetitie), indoor hockey competition (zaalcompetitie), match calendars, disciplinary procedures, substitutions, and DWF procedures for affiliated clubs and players.
• KNHB Clubsupport (Club Support Services) Support services for club officials including resources for administrators (bestuurders), match secretaries (wedstrijdsecretarissen), trainers/coaches and technical managers, and referees (scheidsrechters).
• KNHB Opleidingen (Education and Certification) Educational programs and certification for trainers and coaches, goalkeeper trainers, technical management, and referees offered by KNHB.
• KNHB Oranje National Teams Platform National team platform featuring Dutch men's (Oranje Heren) and women's (Oranje Dames) senior teams, Dutch youth teams, talent development teams, selection procedures, vision and expertise areas, and the Oranje fanshop.
• KNHB Kennislab Knowledge Program Knowledge platform running during the Hockey World Cup 2026 (15-30 August) at Wagener Stadion in Amstelveen. Offers inspiring sessions with top speakers, coaches, and trainers for trainers, coaches, and technical managers, covering topics such as training design, the circle, penalty corners, and coaching.
• Flexhockey Flexible Hockey Booking Service enabling users to find and book hockey activities without committing to a fixed membership, supporting flexible participation in the sport.
• Hockey Foundation Accessibility Initiative Initiative co-founded by Rabobank and KNHB to make hockey accessible to broader audiences, including non-traditional and underserved target groups, through club-level accessibility programs and grassroots development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15% of hockeyers stop due to injury (2025 Exit Research)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RabobankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain partner since 1996. Shirt sponsor of Netherlands men's and women's national teams, Jong Oranje, and all national youth teams since 2025. Founder partner of Hockey Foundation (since 2020). Supports Hockey 5s innovation through Rabo Club Tour and Rabo City League. More than 80% of hockey clubs have a relationship with local Rabobank.
• AdidascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquipment sponsor since 1999. With 40% market share, adidas is the #1 hockey brand in Netherlands. Supplies sports clothing for district teams, Netherlands U16, U18, Jong Oranje, and National teams.
• DHLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner since 2022, partnership extended for four years. Under #SameDream initiative supporting women's teams. Introduced Pakketwand parcel lockers at clubs generating revenue. Ambassadors include hockey international Pien Sanders.
• HelloFreshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner and main sponsor of Dutch youth hockey. Official meal supplier for Oranje national teams. Provides meal boxes to internationals in preparation for WK 2026. Develops initiatives for clubs and members including nutrition tips and club activations.
• ONVZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner focused on player health and injury prevention. Partnership extended until end of 2026. Supports hockey players in staying physically and mentally fit, with focus on injury prevention and recovery support.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner. Alignment on values of teamwork and healthy lifestyle. Supports building a resilient and connected society through sport.
• StaatsloterijcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner of Dutch hockey. As part of Nederlandse Loterij, contributes to Dutch sport development through NOC*NSF. Main sponsor of TeamNL since July 2025. Supports hockey sport development at both elite and grassroots levels.
• NOC*NSFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Olympic Committee*Netherlands Sports Federation. KNHB shares member data (postcode, birthdate, gender, sport federation, optional club) for statistical purposes. Jointly responsible for KISS (Knowledge and Information System for Sport) data processing.
• Hockey FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative making hockey accessible to broader audiences. Founded by Rabobank and KNHB. Supports clubs in establishing new initiatives in areas where hockey is not obvious.
• KNVB, NHB, NevobominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOther national sports federations collaborating with KNHB under DHL #SameDream initiative for women's sports.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KNLTB (Royal Netherlands Lawn Tennis Association): KNLTB is another Dutch NGB operating an affiliated-club network, competition structures, and education programs; comparable federation structure, member-fee model, and partnership portfolio approach.
• Deutscher Hockey-Bund (DHB): DHB is the German national hockey federation; directly comparable as another large European hockey NGB managing national teams, competitions, and club networks — operates in a similar continental European hockey ecosystem.
• KNVB (Royal Netherlands Football Association): KNVB is the Dutch national governing body for football and the largest NGB in the Netherlands; shares the same federation model, NOC*NSF relationship, member-club network, and digital-platform modernization trajectory as KNHB.
• NOC*NSF (Dutch Olympic Committee & Sports Federation): NOC*NSF is the umbrella organization for Dutch sport federations including KNHB; they jointly process member data via the KISS system and Staatsloterij flows sport-development funding through NOC*NSF to KNHB — directly comparable as the national coordinating body for member federations.
• Royal Belgian Hockey Federation (ARBH/FRBH): The Belgian hockey federation is co-hosting the WK Hockey 2026 with KNHB; directly comparable as the neighboring country's national hockey governing body with similar federation structure and competitive ecosystem.
• Nevobo (Nederlandse Volleybalbond): Nevobo is the Dutch volleyball federation and collaborates with KNHB under the DHL #SameDream initiative for women's sports; comparable small-NGB federation model with affiliated clubs and competition structures.
• England Hockey: England Hockey is the English national governing body for field hockey; directly comparable as another leading hockey NGB managing elite teams, club competitions, and grassroots development in a major European market.

Regional players

• Hockey Australia: Hockey Australia is the Australian national governing body for hockey; comparable federation structure and competition-management role, but operating in a different geographic territory (Oceania) than KNHB's Netherlands home market.
• USA Field Hockey: USA Field Hockey is the U.S. national governing body recognized by USOPC and FIH; comparable NGB role for hockey, but operating in a different geography and a much smaller relative hockey market than the Netherlands.

Broad incumbents

• International Hockey Federation (FIH): FIH is the international governing body that sanctions hockey globally and to which KNHB is affiliated; operates at a broader (international) level and does not directly compete with KNHB but sets the rules, events, and Pro League structure KNHB participates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/knhb
• YouTubeyoutube.com/knhb
• Facebookfacebook.com/knhb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knhb
• Instagraminstagram.com/knhb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond