Dutch Entrepreneurs Eye U.S. Sports Market Opportunities

2025-06-23 community

The Hague, Monday, 23 June 2025.
Reinout Oerlemans led over 200 Dutch entrepreneurs at The Hague event, highlighting the $169.56 billion U.S. sports market’s potential and introducing the NLA platform.

Event Highlights and Objectives

On 11 June 2025, more than 200 Dutch entrepreneurs convened at the ‘Sports in USA Event’ in The Hague to explore the burgeoning $169.56 billion US sports market. The event underscored the Netherlands’ capacity to compete globally in this domain. Reinout Oerlemans, honorary consul in Los Angeles, emphasized the necessity of innovation and global ambition for businesses aiming to penetrate one of the world’s largest sports markets. He stated, ‘Let’s make it happen!’, rallying support for Dutch enterprises pursuing opportunities in the US sports sector [1].

The Launch of the NLA Platform

A significant development during the event was the launch of the NLA platform, led by Reinout Oerlemans. This initiative is designed to consolidate efforts across sports, innovation, business, and culture between the Netherlands and the US. It aims to facilitate sustainable collaborations and enhance visibility, with a specific focus on leveraging the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The development of a physical NLA Hub is also planned, serving as a cornerstone for economic diplomacy and cross-cultural exchange [1].

Dutch Innovation and the Global Stage

Dutch entrepreneurial ambition is aligned with upcoming events such as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico. These events present ample opportunities for Dutch companies to showcase their capabilities in sports technology and innovation. Daphne van Dijk from the KNVB Voetbal Innovatiehub #11 noted that the ‘community thinking’ approach from the Netherlands serves as a significant revelation for American markets, highlighting the uniqueness of Dutch business strategies [1].

Strategic Collaborations and Future Plans

The event was supported by institutions such as the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), indicating the strategic importance of these initiatives. The event organizers, including Orange Sports Forum and SportsNL, highlighted the potential for the Netherlands to advance its sports innovation footprint in the US. This strategic positioning is not only about showcasing technology but also about aligning with the cultural and business practices of the US market, thus ensuring a long-term beneficial relationship [1].

Bronnen

entrepreneurship sports innovation