The Netherlands national football team has appeared in eleven UEFA European Championship tournaments. The team did not enter the first tournament during Euro 1960 and failed to qualify for Euro 1964, Euro 1968 and Euro 1972.
The Netherlands first appearance in the UEFA European Championship was at Euro 1976. During qualification they won their group ahead of Poland and Italy, and then defeated Belgium. During the four-team final tournament they lost the semi-finals to Czechoslovakia, and then defeated Yugoslavia in the third-place playoff match. They qualified for Euro 1980 over Poland and East Germany. Despite an opening match win against Greece, a loss to West Germany and a draw with Czechoslovakia kept them from advancing past the group stage. They failed to reach Euro 1984 despite finishing level on points with Spain during qualification.
The Netherlands qualified for Euro 1988 with wins over Greece, Hungary and Poland. During the final tournament group stage they lost to the Soviet Union, and then went on to defeat England and Ireland. In the semi-finals they defeated hosts Germany 2-1, and then beat the Soviet Union 2-0 in the final to become 1988 champions. In the build-up for Euro 1992, the Netherlands qualified ahead of Portugal and Greece. In the group stage, they defeated Scotland and Germany, and drew with the CIS. They then lost to eventual champions Denmark in the semi-finals after 2-2, which was decided by a penalty shootout. The Netherlands finished behind the Czech Republic, and qualified for Euro 1996 via a play-off against Ireland. In the tournament, they drew with Scotland, beat Switzerland and then lost 4-1 to England; they went on to loss in a penalty shootout in the quarter finals to France after 0-0.
As co-hosts with Belgium, the Netherlands automatically qualified for Euro 2000. They won all of their group stage matches, against the Czech Republic, Denmark and France. In the quarter finals they defeated Yugoslavia 6-1 only to lose in the semi finals after 0-0 in a penalty shootout against Italy. The Netherlands finished behind the Czech Republic, and qualified for Euro 2004 via a play-off against Scotland. The opened their tournament match with a draw against Germany, then a loss to the Czech Republic and a win over Latvia. In the quarter finals they won in a penalty shootout to Sweden before losing the semi finals to hosts Portugal 2-1. They finished second after Romania to qualify for Euro 2008; the Netherlands opened with three wins: 3-0 against Italy, 4-1 over France and 2-0 against Romania. In the quarter finals they lost 3-1 (aet) to Russia. Qualifying ahead of Sweden for Euro 2012, the Netherlands lost all group stage matches: to Denmark, Germany and Portugal. The Netherlands failed to reach Euro 2016 after loses to the Czech Republic, Turkey and Iceland.
Euro 2020 saw the Netherlands qualify behind Germany; they won all group stage matches against Ukraine, Austria and North Macedonia. In the round of 16, they lost 2-0 to the Czech Republic. The Netherlands finished behind France to qualify for Euro 2024; they opened with a win over Poland, followed by a draw against France and a loss to Austria. In the round of 16 they defeated Romania 3-0 followed by a 2-1 quarter final win against Turkey. In the semi finals they lost to England 2-1.
Overall record
UEFA European Championship record
|
|
Qualifying record
|
Year
|
Round
|
Position
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
Squad
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
1960
|
Did not enter
|
Did not enter
|
1964
|
Did not qualify
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
6
|
5
|
1968
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
11
|
11
|
1972
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
18
|
6
|
1976
|
Third place
|
3rd
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
Squad
|
8
|
6
|
0
|
2
|
21
|
9
|
1980
|
Group stage
|
5th
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
Squad
|
8
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
20
|
6
|
1984
|
Did not qualify
|
8
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
22
|
6
|
1988
|
Champions
|
1st
|
5
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
8
|
3
|
Squad
|
8
|
6
|
2
|
0
|
15
|
1
|
1992
|
Semi-finals
|
3rd
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
6
|
3
|
Squad
|
8
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
17
|
2
|
1996
|
Quarter-finals
|
8th
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
Squad
|
11
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
25
|
5
|
2000
|
Semi-finals
|
3rd
|
5
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
13
|
3
|
Squad
|
Qualified as hosts
|
2004
|
3rd
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
7
|
6
|
Squad
|
10
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
26
|
7
|
2008
|
Quarter-finals
|
6th
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
10
|
4
|
Squad
|
12
|
8
|
2
|
2
|
15
|
5
|
2012
|
Group stage
|
15th
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
Squad
|
10
|
9
|
0
|
1
|
37
|
8
|
2016
|
Did not qualify
|
10
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
17
|
14
|
2020
|
Round of 16
|
9th
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
8
|
4
|
Squad
|
8
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
24
|
7
|
2024
|
Semi-finals
|
3rd
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
10
|
7
|
Squad
|
8
|
6
|
0
|
2
|
17
|
7
|
2028
|
To be determined
|
To be determined
|
2032
|
Total
|
1 Title
|
11/17
|
45
|
23
|
9
|
13
|
75
|
48
|
—
|
125
|
83
|
16
|
26
|
291
|
99
|
List of matches
Year
|
Round
|
Opponent
|
Score
|
Result
|
Venue
|
Netherlands scorers
|
1976 |
Semi-finals |
Czechoslovakia |
1–3 (a.e.t.) |
L |
Zagreb |
Ondruš (o.g.)
|
Third place play-off |
Yugoslavia |
3–2 (a.e.t.) |
W |
Zagreb |
Geels (2), Van de Kerkhof
|
1980 |
Group stage |
Greece |
1–0 |
W |
Naples |
Kist
|
West Germany |
2–3 |
L |
Naples |
Rep, Van de Kerkhof
|
Czechoslovakia |
1–1 |
D |
Milan |
Kist
|
1988 |
Group stage |
Soviet Union |
0–1 |
L |
Cologne |
—
|
England |
3–1 |
W |
Düsseldorf |
Van Basten (3)
|
Republic of Ireland |
1–0 |
W |
Gelsenkirchen |
Kieft
|
Semi-finals |
West Germany |
2–1 |
W |
Hamburg |
Koeman, Van Basten
|
Final |
Soviet Union |
2–0 |
W |
Munich |
Gullit, Van Basten
|
1992 |
Group stage |
Scotland |
1–0 |
W |
Gothenburg |
Bergkamp
|
CIS |
0–0 |
D |
Gothenburg |
—
|
Germany |
3–1 |
W |
Gothenburg |
Rijkaard, Witschge, Bergkamp
|
Semi-finals |
Denmark |
2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) |
D |
Gothenburg |
Bergkamp, Rijkaard
|
1996 |
Group stage |
Scotland |
0–0 |
D |
Birmingham |
—
|
Switzerland |
2–0 |
W |
Birmingham |
Cruyff, Bergkamp
|
England |
1–4 |
L |
London |
Kluivert
|
Quarter-finals |
France |
0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) |
D |
Liverpool |
—
|
2000 |
Group stage |
Czech Republic |
1–0 |
W |
Amsterdam |
F. de Boer
|
Denmark |
3–0 |
W |
Rotterdam |
Kluivert, R. de Boer, Zenden
|
France |
3–2 |
W |
Amsterdam |
Kluivert, F. de Boer, Zenden
|
Quarter-finals |
FR Yugoslavia |
6–1 |
W |
Rotterdam |
Kluivert (3), Govedarica (o.g.), Overmars (2)
|
Semi-finals |
Italy |
0–0 (a.e.t.) (1–3 p) |
D |
Amsterdam |
—
|
2004 |
Group stage |
Germany |
1–1 |
D |
Porto |
Van Nistelrooy
|
Czech Republic |
2–3 |
L |
Aveiro |
Bouma, Van Nistelrooy
|
Latvia |
3–0 |
W |
Braga |
Van Nistelrooy (2), Makaay
|
Quarter-finals |
Sweden |
0–0 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) |
D |
Faro |
—
|
Semi-finals |
Portugal |
1–2 |
L |
Lisbon |
Andrade (o.g.)
|
2008 |
Group stage |
Italy |
3–0 |
W |
Bern |
Van Nistelrooy, Sneijder, Van Bronckhorst
|
France |
4–1 |
W |
Bern |
Kuyt, Van Persie, Robben, Sneijder
|
Romania |
2–0 |
W |
Bern |
Huntelaar, Van Persie
|
Quarter-finals |
Russia |
1–3 (a.e.t.) |
L |
Basel |
Van Nistelrooy
|
2012 |
Group stage |
Denmark |
0–1 |
L |
Kharkiv |
—
|
Germany |
1–2 |
L |
Kharkiv |
Van Persie
|
Portugal |
1–2 |
L |
Kharkiv |
Van der Vaart
|
2020 |
Group stage |
Ukraine |
3–2 |
W |
Amsterdam |
Wijnaldum, Weghorst, Dumfries
|
Austria |
2–0 |
W |
Amsterdam |
Depay, Dumfries
|
North Macedonia |
3–0 |
W |
Amsterdam |
Depay, Wijnaldum (2)
|
Round of 16 |
Czech Republic |
0–2 |
L |
Budapest |
—
|
2024 |
Group stage |
Poland |
2–1 |
W |
Hamburg |
Gakpo, Weghorst
|
France |
0–0 |
D |
Leipzig |
—
|
Austria |
2–3 |
L |
Berlin |
Gakpo, Depay
|
Round of 16 |
Romania |
3–0 |
W |
Munich |
Gakpo, Malen (2)
|
Quarter-finals |
Turkey |
2–1 |
W |
Berlin |
De Vrij, Müldür (o.g.)
|
Semi-finals |
England |
1–2 |
L |
Dortmund |
Simons
|
Head-to-head record
Euro 1976
Final tournament
- Semi-finals
- Third place play-off
Euro 1980
Group stage
Euro 1988
Group stage
Knockout stage
- Semi-finals
- Final
Euro 1992
Group stage
Knockout stage
- Semi-finals
Euro 1996
Group stage
- ^ a b Tied on head-to-head result (Netherlands 0–0 Scotland) and overall goal difference (−1). Overall goals for was used as the tiebreaker.
Knockout stage
- Quarter-finals
Euro 2000
Group stage
Knockout stage
- Quarter-finals
- Semi-finals
Euro 2004
Group stage
Knockout stage
- Quarter-finals
- Semi-finals
Euro 2008
Group stage
Knockout stage
- Quarter-finals
Euro 2012
Group stage
Euro 2020
Group stage
Knockout stage
- Round of 16
Euro 2024
Group stage
- Ranking of third-placed teams
Source:
UEFARules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Wins; 5) Lower disciplinary points total; 6)
European Qualifiers overall ranking (or drawing of lots, if hosts Germany had been involved in the tiebreaker).
[18]Notes:
Knockout stage
- Round of 16
- Quarter-finals
- Semi-finals
Most appearances
Rank
|
Player
|
Matches
|
Years
|
1 |
Edwin van der Sar |
16 |
1996, 2000, 2004, 2008
|
2 |
Dennis Bergkamp |
13 |
1992, 1996, 2000
|
Phillip Cocu |
1996, 2000, 2004
|
4 |
Edgar Davids |
12 |
1996, 2000, 2004
|
5 |
Giovanni van Bronckhorst |
11 |
2000, 2004, 2008
|
6 |
Michael Reiziger |
10 |
1996, 2000, 2004
|
Clarence Seedorf |
1996, 2000, 2004
|
Memphis Depay |
2020, 2024
|
Stefan de Vrij |
2020, 2024
|
Wout Weghorst |
2020, 2024
|
Top goalscorers
See also
References
External links
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1 Considered a successor team by FIFA, or have competed under another name(s). |
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General | |
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Venues | |
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Statistics | |
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Results | |
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Players | |
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Goals | |
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Rivalries | |
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FIFA World Cup | |
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UEFA European Championship | |
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Other tournaments | |
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Culture | |
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Other KNVB teams | |
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