How football brings 10 million people together

The figures show not only the enormous number of people who love the sport, but also that supporters feel connected through football clubs. - Foto: KNVB Media

With more than 10 million engaged fans, football forms the largest social network in the country. This is also confirmed by the new KNVB Social Impact Report 2024/’25, supplemented with recent research. The figures show not only the enormous number of people who love the sport, but also that supporters feel connected through football clubs.

More than half of the Netherlands follows football, according to new research by Markteffect. They follow professional football, local amateur football, and of course the national team, Oranje. Interest in football is also broadly spread across all age groups and education levels.

Football’s social role is growing

Whether it’s about a healthier Netherlands, equal opportunities, or increasing mutual understanding; football shows that real change begins when people meet each other.

The figures from Markteffect further show that for 3.7 million people, professional football strengthens their social network. In addition, an even larger group of 4.1 million fans state that football enhances their enjoyment, happiness, and mental well-being. Notably, almost half of professional football fans advocate for more intensive cooperation between football clubs and national and local governments on themes such as health, social cohesion, and sustainability. This signal carries weight as clubs increasingly take on social responsibilities. Vicepresident Professional Football Marianne van Leeuwen says: “Whether it’s about a healthier Netherlands, equal opportunities, or increasing mutual understanding; football shows that real change begins when people meet each other.”

Professional football clubs run 330 social projects focused on physical, social, and/or mental health. Amateur clubs do the same, ranging from 800 clubs participating in Discriminatie = Kansloos, football initiatives for people with disabilities, to nearly 700 local activities during the National Football Weekend.

Vicepresident Amateur Football Jan Dirk van der Zee says: “Football connects people because it is a meeting place where differences fade and new possibilities arise.”

Rising demand for support increases football’s commitment to health

The KNVB sees a growing demand from society, particularly in the areas of mental health and poverty. The program The Invisible Injury was announced last season to better support young people as their mental health declines. Mental health is made discussable through coaches, trainers, and a specially developed football.

The KNVB is committed to ensuring that all children can enjoy playing football and thus contribute to their fitness and health. The initiative Niemand Buitenspel (No One Offside), in which specialized volunteers help children in poverty to continue playing sports, supported more than 11,000 children. School football reached 220,000 children, including many pupils from special education. The men’s national team contributed by auctioning their shirts for Het Vergeten Kind (The Forgotten Child). The proceeds amounted to €225,000.

Creating equal opportunities through coaching programs

Internationally, the KNVB WorldCoaches training program celebrated its 15th anniversary and launched a course in the Netherlands for the first time, at the Ter Apel registration center. Since 2009, WorldCoaches has trained local coaches in more than fifty countries, focusing on football skills as well as themes such as self-confidence, resilience, health, and equal opportunities.

The new Coaching Girls module, aimed at coaches of girls’ and mixed teams, won an award for best social initiative. This season also saw the launch of The Class of ’25, an initiative to diversify the boardrooms of amateur clubs and challenge everyone to embrace the impactful role of football administrator.

Clubs are going green

The KNVB is working with architects on modular wooden clubhouses that reduce negative impact of facilities on the environment and make it possible to accelerate the construction of new canteens. This is important, as most existing facilities are in need of renewal. The KNVB also launched the Green Club Scan: a free online tool that immediately provides clubs with a complete, subsidy-eligible energy advice, without the need for an advisor. The KNVB itself is also becoming greener. All KNVB departments have drawn up concrete measures to reduce their emissions.

Stories behind the figures

The personal story of Omar (WorldCoaches) and Daphne (Coaching Girls) show how these initiatives make a difference in practice. For those who want to learn more about these stories and the impact of football in the Netherlands, the KNVB refers to the full social impact report.

KNVB Social Impact Report 2024/'25

Read Omar’s story here

Read Daphne’s story here