| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Netherlands |
| City | Assen, Nuenen and Amsterdam |
| Dates | 6 to 11 November 1978 |
| Teams | 8 |
| Venue(s) | 3 (in 3 host cities) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Netherlands (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  Belgium |
| Third place |  West Germany |
| Fourth place |  Great Britain |
The 1st Korfball World Championships was held in The Netherlands on November 6–11, in the cities of Assen, Nuenen, and Amsterdam