Netherlands national football team results (unofficial matches) explained

This is a list of the Netherlands national football team's results from 1894 to the present day that, for various reasons, are not accorded the status of official internationals and are not being recognized by FIFA.[1] Player appearances and goals in these matches are also not counted to their totals.

The national team played twelve matches until the first official international match of the Netherlands took place in 1905. They played their first match against the English side Felixstowe FC on 6 February 1894.[2] Their first unofficial victory came against the English side Maidstone FC, which was defeated 4–3, thanks to two goals from Pim Mulier.[3] The biggest victory came on 18 November 1895 when Saxmundham FC, the losing finalists in the Suffolk Senior Cup the season before, was sent home after a 9–2 loss, thanks in part to a 5-goal haul from Rein Boomsma.[4]

1890s

1899

1900s and Coupe Vanden Abeele

In the early 1900s, the Netherlands played four unofficial matches against Belgium as they contested for the Coupe Vanden Abeele.[5] The Dutch were represented by sides selected and organized by Cees van Hasselt, but since the games were not being sanctioned by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), only players from the second division were available to Van Hasselt, so Belgium naturally won those games.[5] [6] [7]

1910s

In the 20th century, the Netherlands played several unofficial matches against British clubs, and did it under several different names such as Netherlands/Holland XI, Select Netherlands/Holland, and Zwaluwen.[8]

1920s

1921

Apart from the official biannual Low Countries derbies, Belgium played against the Netherlands for diverse purposes in the 1920s; the 1925 and 1926 matches served as fundraiser for FIFA and charity, respectively, and in the 1929 match the Royal Dutch Football Association's 40th anniversary was celebrated.

1929

1930s

1930

Outside the official biannual Low Countries derbies, Belgium faced the Netherlands for diverse reasons in the 1930s; the 1930 match served to inaugurate the new national stadium, the two matches in 1932 served as a fundraiser for FIFA and charity, and the 1939 match was at the occasion of the Royal Dutch Football Association's 50th anniversary.[9]

1939

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Netherlands - List of International Matches . . 14 May 2014 . 13 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220713205750/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/ned-intres.html . live .
  2. Web site: Beste spelers van Nederland niet opgewassen tegen Engelse ploeg . Best players in the Netherlands are no match for the English team . nl . www.dagvantoen.nl . 6 February 1894 . 1 July 2023 . 1 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230701215941/https://www.dagvantoen.nl/beste-spelers-van-nederland-niet-opgewassen-tegen-engelse-ploeg/ . live .
  3. Web site: Nederlands elftal 1893-'94 . The Dutch national team in 1893-'94 . nl . www.dagvantoen.nl . 11 July 2023 . 1 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230701235959/https://www.voetbalkroniek.nl/2020/12/nederlands-elftal-1893-94.html . live .
  4. Web site: Nederlands elftal 1895-'96 . The Dutch national team in 1895-'96 . nl . www.dagvantoen.nl . 2 July 2023 . 1 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230701235959/https://www.voetbalkroniek.nl/2022/05/nederlands-elftal-1895-96.html . live .
  5. Web site: Coupe Vanden Abeele . . 9 June 2022 . 2 July 2023 . 9 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220709122417/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/coupe-vdab.html . live .
  6. Book: Hubert, Christian . Les diables rouges . fr . 1980 . Arts & voyages . Brussels . 978-28-016-0046-7 . 12–13.
  7. Book: nl . Jean . Fraiponts . Dirk . Willocx . Kroniek van het Belgische voetbal / Pioniers en Rode Duivels - 1863-1906 . Assoc. BE bvba . Antwerp . 2003 . 1 . 978-90-77314-01-2 . . Extract consulted online on 30 August 2010 on Beerschot Athletic Club
  8. Web site: British and Irish Clubs - Overseas Tours 1890-1939 . . 12 September 2024 . 1 December 2024.
  9. Web site: The "Derby der Lage Landen" . . Karel Stokkermans . 6 Mar 2014 . 16 May 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160629063447/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesb/belnedres.html . 29 June 2016 .