There are 17 million people who live in a tiny country approx. the same size as West Virginia. They are under sea level; the country was built from the sea, and, somehow, they have produced record-breaking, world-conquering humans, what more do you want from us?
Dutch people have been quietly (and sometimes very loudly) running things for centuries. The Netherlands has written its name on several maps over time – including how they’ve revolutionized trade all over the globe throughout the Golden Age; how they’ve developed multiple (4x) championship winning drivers as well as Olympic world record holders (2026); etc. For this reason alone, there are many lessons to be learned by everyone around the world, let’s take the opportunity to explore these future lessons written with orange and white on orange and white; their history, their past, their heroes and champion athletes who made history from this country no bigger than a postage stamp.
The Orange Thing Is Not Random, It Goes Deep
Before we get into the names, let us talk about why Dutch people wear orange for everything. Every sporting occasion, every national observance, and every reason they could find; the stadium is a large navel orange; you can even see it from space.
The Dutch revolt against Spanish authority during the 16th century was initiated by William of Orange, or William the Silent, who was the champion of Dutch independence and became the father of modern-day Netherlands. The fun part is that Dutch farmers began to grow orange carrots solely to commemorate him. That means the orange carrot you eat with your hummus is a part of Dutch patriotic tradition; the Netherlands presented the rest of the world with orange carrots in memory of their founding father, and they are now wearing this color for all great national competitions as if it was a part of their religion.
This is truly an expression of devotion to one’s national heritage that cannot be produced.
William of Orange, The Original Power Player
Let’s take a moment to appreciate William the Silent. During the late 1500s, the presence of the Spanish Habsburgs in what is now known as the Netherlands was nothing short of catastrophic, for everyone involved, Dutch or otherwise. Thanks to William’s efforts, the Dutch ultimately banded together, revolted against their oppressive rulers, and began building a new and independent nation: the Republic of the Netherlands, where for a considerable period of time this new republic would be the foremost power in global trade.
As a result, William’s effect on and legacy to global history is tremendous. The Republic of the Netherlands, as he helped to build, would become the dominant trading nation worldwide during the 17th century; in fact, with the rise of Amsterdam as the leading commercial city of Europe (replacing the long-dominant Antwerp), this republic would have world-wide trade spread amongst all five continents. Additionally, the Dutch East Indies Company was the world’s first multinational corporation; all of which is the legacy of one man, William, who faced off against one of the largest and most powerful empires of the time with the determination to create freedom and a better life for future generations. If there was a Hall of Fame for founding fathers that represented more than the United States, William of Orange would have his own wing.
The Dutch Golden Age, When the Netherlands Ran the World
In a nutshell, from approximately 1609 to 1713 during the Dutch Golden Age, the Netherlands emerged as one of the leading global powers of the time throughout history in all three areas – politics, economics and culture. A small, flat, marshy country would declare itself the centre of civilisations’ development and for the next hundred years would be the de facto centre.
The Dutch had a hand in international trade in East Asia and dominated the spice trade; they had financed most of the European wars during the Dutch Golden Age and were producing some of the greatest masterpieces of art at that time including those of Rembrandt, and Vermeer. They are representative of the art produced in the Netherlands during the Dutch Golden Age. Their philosophy was similarly represented in the works of René Descartes who did much of the philosophical work during the period while residing in the Netherlands where historians have noted he found the intellectual freedom to be creative unlike in other parts of Europe.
Scientific endeavours in the United Provinces were at possibly their highest levels of achievement with the likes of Christiaan Huygens and his peers thought to have been most comparable in terms of their power of science and contributions to the sciences during that time period in comparision to Isaac Newton. The Netherlands had more scientific, artistic, trading and philosophy-based individuals during the 17th century than any other country in the world. Amazing.
Johan Cruyff, The Man Who Reinvented Football
Anyone who even has a passing interest in the world of football will most likely have heard of Johan Cruyff. The legendary Dutch footballer was one of the biggest influences on the game of football throughout the entire history of the sport and arguably one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game. He was a visionary on the pitch (or field), with an extraordinary level of skill and intelligence; he represented the philosophy of ‘total football’, which is the idea that every player will freely interchange positions and that the game is not about fixed roles but instead about using one’s brain to move around intelligently.
Cruyff was the winner of three Ballon D’or trophies, in 1971, 1973, and 1974, and also led Ajax to three European Cup victories in a row. However, the trophies themselves are almost incidental. More importantly, cruise created a revolution in how football was played and perceived throughout the world. This idea of ‘total football’ (where all players are able to interchange positions at will) had a profound impact on Pep Guardiola and everything he accomplished during the most glorious period of FC Barcelona and all modern possession-based styles of play that dominate top-level football today in 2026.
Ajax has also named their stadium after Johan Cruyff, the Johan Cruyff Arena, in recognition of all that he has done for the sport. The impact of a single Dutch man on a game played all over the world (and long after he has passed away) is difficult to comprehend.
Max Verstappen, Four Titles and Still Hungry
Let me now talk about the greatest modern-day race car driver, who just happens to have the exact same nationality as the Netherlands! He is Max Verstappen who has 71 race victories, 48 poles, and 127 podiums as of 2024. He has won 4 FIA Formula 1 World Driver’s Championships in a row, from 2021-2024. He became the first ever Dutch person to win a The first Formula One world champion, and then in addition, he also won three consecutive titles after that.
In 2025, after climbing back from a 104-point deficit, Verstappen lost the world title by just 2 points to Lando Norris at the final race in Abu Dhabi. Most of the top drivers in the world would consider this to be their greatest achievement ever; but for Verstappen, this is just the beginning.
Going into 2026, Verstappen is back with an entirely new car number, a new engine/partner in Ford at Red Bull Racing and all of the same energy. The Netherlands has a long history of creating people who refuse to accept defeat, and Verstappen is probably the best example currently living!
Vincent van Gogh, The Original Dutch Disruptor
Vincent Van Gogh deserves to be included in this discussion about the contributions sports make to society. He is considered one of the strongest artistic influences throughout recorded history, creating almost all of his most important works over a period of 10 years before he died at 37 years old.
Van Gogh painted with strikingly bold colours, sweeping brush strokes, and an emotional sincerity unseen by any of his predecessors or contemporaries during his time. One could argue that the Post-Impressionist Movement owes much to Van Gough’s art: working while living in poverty and with significant personal turmoil/struggle, the world at large generally failed to recognize Van Gogh’s genius until after he passed away; subsequently, his works are now valued at hundreds of millions of dollars and are found in many museums on every continent.
Such an example of how a Dutchman who was ahead of his time, refused to compromise his vision, and ultimately proved himself correct can be found in the life and career of Vincent Van Gogh.
Jutta Leerdam, The Ice Queen of 2026
Jutta Leerdam made history at the 2026 Winter Olympics held at Milano Cortina. She skated a time of 1:12.31 in the women’s 1000m speed skating final to set a new Olympic record; this broke the record previously held by her teammate, Femke Kok, who had set her record just moments before in the same event. The Dutch team captured gold and silver in the race. Both athletes set a new Olympic record.
Leerdam, after winning both the gold and silver medals at Milano Cortina 2026, stated that she wants her platform to be used as a way to encourage future generations. She stated that young girls watching should never be discouraged by anyone who tells them they can’t accomplish something. That is the vibe.
What is so interesting about Jutta Leerdam from a figure standpoint is that she has completely transcended her sport. With seven world championships, an enormous social media following, and a very public engagement to Jake Paul; she has become much more than just an athlete, she is proof that Dutch people in 2026 are not just winning in sport, they are owning the cultural conversation too.
A New Generation of Dutch Political Power
There’s More to the Netherlands than Just Sports and Art. The Netherlands grabbed headlines again in February 2026 when Rob Jetten was sworn in as the youngest prime minister ever at age 38, following the closely contested election held October 2025. He will now lead his D66 party as a centrist leader in one of the most unstable political climates throughout Europe which makes this a historic moment in the history of Dutch politics and indicative of where the country intends to go from here on out.
Also in 2026, the Netherlands will also be the host of the FIFA 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup to be held in Amstelveen – as it has played an integral role in hosting many major global sports events throughout its history. While the total Dutch population is approximately 17 million, the impact of the Netherlands’ contribution to world events in 2026 will be truly remarkable!
What Is the Secret?
So what actually makes Dutch people so Pragmatism, directness, and efficiency, all are values that define the Dutch culture, and have been passed down for generations upon generations. The Dutch have built their nation from water, both literally and physically, using togetherness to engineer and construct their nation from the ground up. They created a global trading network long before many others thought of doing anything outside of their own backyards. They have been strong supporters of free speech and intellectual freedom; therefore, many of the world’s most famous philosophers (such as Descartes) chose to live in the Netherlands.
William of Orange took on the Spanish Empire; Cruyff redefined soccer; Verstappen has won four world championships at age 24; Leerdam broke an Olympic record in front of the entire world; and Van Gogh painted until his last breath, personally indifferent of whether anyone was watching.
The colour orange is loud and the ambition is louder. The world is still watching in 2026.
