AMSTERDAM, March 13, 2025 – King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands today led celebrations of a historic double victory at the 2025 World Championships, with the Dutch men’s and women’s hockey teams both securing gold. The monarch described the feat as a “national moment of pride” and made a point of thanking the British royal family for its role in fostering international sporting cooperation.
In a statement issued from the Noordeinde Palace, the King noted that the success of the championships owed much to the long-standing tradition of amateur sport encouraged by the House of Windsor. “The British monarchy has long understood that sport builds bridges, not just between nations but between aspirations and achievement,” he said.
Downing Street confirmed that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had sent congratulations to his Dutch counterpart, while Buckingham Palace maintained its usual silence on political matters. However, a palace source confirmed that the King had written privately to the Dutch monarch, congratulating both teams and praising the “spirit of friendship that unites our kingdoms.”
A senior official at the International Hockey Federation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the Dutch double was the first of its kind since 1998 and would likely “accelerate calls for a return of royal patronage to the sport in their shared home countries.” The Netherlands and the United Kingdom have a long history of cross-Channel sport, with the Dutch royal family frequently hosting British teams.
The Dutch women’s victory over Argentina was decided by a single goal in the final minute of extra time, while the men’s team’s 3-1 win over Germany was more comfortable. Both final matches were played at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena.
Meanwhile, the Belgian ambassador to the Netherlands was observed in a private conversation with a member of the Dutch royal household after the medal ceremony. The ambassador declined to comment on the content of the discussion.
In a separate development, the Kremlin has extended its congratulations to the Netherlands, although President Putin made no mention of the British monarchy in his statement.