The Netherlands first competed at the Summer Olympic Games at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
Medalists Medal Name Sport Event Date Minerva AmsterdamUnknown French boy Rowing Men's coxed pair Mascotte Sailing 3 to 10 ton (Race 1) Minerva Amsterdam Rowing Men's coxed four Shooting Men's 50 metre free pistol Team Swimming Men's 200 metre backstroke Minerva Amsterdam RowingMen's eight
Results by event
Aquatics
Swimming
The Netherlands had 4 swimmers compete in 1900. Drost won a bronze medal; two others made their event finals but did not medal.
Swimmer Event Semifinals Final Result Rank Result Rank Herman de By Men's 200 metre freestyle 3:10.4 2 did not advance Eduard Meijer Men's 4000 metre freestyle 1:17:55.4 2 q 1:16:37.2 5 Johannes Bloemen Men's 200 metre backstroke 3:09.2 1 Q 3:02.2 4 Johannes Drost 3:10.2 2 q 3:01.0
Archery
6 Dutch archers competed in the first Olympic archery competition. The Netherlands did not win any medals in the competition. None of the names of the Dutch archers are known. They competed only in the Sur la Perche à la Herse and Sur la Perche à la Pyramide events, though whether all six competed in both or if any or all competed in only one is also unknown.
Fencing
The Netherlands first competed in fencing at the Olympics in the sport's second appearance. The nation sent one fencer.
Fencer Event Round 1 Quarterfinals Repechage Semifinals Final Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Antonius van Nieuwenhuizen Men's masters épée Unknown 3–6 colspan=4 did not advance
Rowing
The Netherlands had 3 boats, all from the Minerva Amsterdam club, compete in the first Olympic rowing competitions. They won 1 medal of each color. Because the unknown cox in the coxed pair final was a French boy, the gold medal was often credited as a mixed team medal rather than a Dutch one.
Boat Event Round 1 Semifinals Final Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Minerva Amsterdam Men's coxed pair colspan=2 6:56.0 2 Q 7:34.2 Minerva Amsterdam Men's coxed four colspan=2 6:02.0 1 QB 6:03.0 Minerva Amsterdam Men's eight colspan=2 4:59.2 1 Q 6:23.0
Sailing
The Dutch had one boat in the first Olympic sailing competition. The Dutch team competed in both races of the 3–10 ton class, winning silver and taking 4th. They also competed in the open class, but did not finish.
Sailors Event Time Rank 3–10 ton class race 1 3:46:52 3–10 ton class race 2 4:46:36 4 Open class –
Shooting
The Netherlands' first Olympic appearance included competing in the shooting events. Dutch shooters competed in the military pistol and military rifle sets of events.
Shooter Event Score Rank Antonius Bouwens Men's 50 metre free pistol 390 15 Dirk Boest Gips 437 6 Henrik Sillem 408 12 Anthony Sweijs 310 20 Solko van den Bergh 331 18 Men's 50 metre free pistol, team 1876 Antonius Bouwens Men's 300 metre free rifle, standing 238 28 Marcus Ravenswaaij 272 14 Henrik Sillem 249 25 Solko van den Bergh 239 26 Uilke Vuurman 261 22 Antonius Bouwens Men's 300 metre free rifle, kneeling 296 11 Marcus Ravenswaaij 306 5 Henrik Sillem 281 19 Solko van den Bergh 274 20 Uilke Vuurman 303 6 Antonius Bouwens Men's 300 metre free rifle, prone 278 26 Marcus Ravenswaaij 303 14 Henrik Sillem 317 6 Solko van den Bergh 292 20 Uilke Vuurman 312 8 Antonius Bouwens Men's 300 metre free rifle, three positions 812 25 Marcus Ravenswaaij 881 9 Henrik Sillem 847 18 Solko van den Bergh 805 27 Uilke Vuurman 876 14 Men's 300 metre free rifle, team 4221 5
References Hermanus Brockmann in coxed pairs rowing competition was the coxswain for the semifinals, but not for the finals. The name of the French boy the Dutch team employed as a coxswain for the final is unknown. The medal therefore was first not awarded to the Netherlands, but to a Mixed team (ZZX). Later it was awarded to the NetherlandsCoxed Pairs, Men, OlympediaParis 1900 Rowing pair-oared shell with coxswain men Results, IOC