| Netherlands at the 2012 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | NED |
| NOC | Dutch Olympic Committee* Dutch Sports Federation |
| Website | www |
| in London | |
| Competitors | 175 in 18 sports |
| Flag bearers | Dorian van Rijsselberghe[1] (opening) Ranomi Kromowidjojo (closing) |
| Medals Ranked 13th |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
| Other related appearances | |
| 1906 Intercalated Games | |
The Netherlands competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. Dutch athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games, with the exception of the sparsely attended 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis and 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne (except the equestrian events in Stockholm), which the Netherlands boycotted because of the Soviet invasion of Hungary. The Netherlands National Olympic Committee (Dutch: Nederlands Olympisch Comité * Nederlandse Sport Federatie, NOC*NSF) sent the nation's smallest delegation to the Games since 1988. A total of 175 athletes, 95 men and 80 women, competed in 18 sports.
The Netherlands left London with a total of 20 Olympic medals (6 gold, 6 silver, and 8 bronze), finishing thirteenth in the overall medal standings. Four of these medals were awarded to the team in swimming and equestrian, and three each in cycling and sailing. Four Dutch athletes won more than a single Olympic medal in London. The Netherlands proved successful in team sports in London, as the women's and men's national field hockey teams won gold and silver medals, respectively. For the first time in its history, Netherlands won an Olympic medal in BMX cycling.
Among the nation's medalists were cyclist Marianne Vos, who took her second gold medal, this time in women's road race, windsurfer Dorian van Rijsselberghe, who became the second Dutch man to claim an Olympic title since 1984, and gymnast Epke Zonderland, who won the Netherlands' first ever gold medal in his sport after 84 years.[2] Anky van Grunsven, who won bronze in London, emerged as the greatest equestrian rider in Olympic history, with a total of nine medals (three of them gold). Meanwhile, Ranomi Kromowidjojo became one of the most successful Dutch swimmers in history, with a total of four Olympic medals (including two golds in London), and three Olympic records.
- ^ Staff (12 July 2012). "Surfkampioen mag de Nederlandse vlag dragen " [Surfing champion to carry the Dutch flag] (in Dutch). Sporza. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ "Olympics: Epke Zonderland claims high bar gold for Netherlands". BBC Sport. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.