diversity and new entrants such as anglers. Associations with sports activities suitable for the elderly, such as golf, walking, and swimming, have seen membership growth in recent years, but triathlon is also a popular grower. Associations for racket sports (tennis, squash, and badminton), but also for winter sports and equestrian sports, see declining membership numbers. The 3 million people exercising at a fitness club define fitness as the largest branch of sport. Their share has stabilised since 2013 after a long period of rapid growth. The relative newcomers in group sports, such as boot camp, yoga, and kickboxing, are still growing. Due to the popularity of walking and cycling, clubs that offer these sports are also taking a part in the growth of members. Dutch elite sports The Netherlands wants to belong to the 10 best sports countries in the world. Financial contributions to elite sport from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport have therefore grown in 10 years. Since 2013, more money has gone to 8 successful Olympic sports. The Netherlands is currently in the top 10 of the Winter Olympics, but not yet in the top 10 of the Summer Games. Since 2012, the growth of medals won has decreased slightly. The athletes of long track speed skating and paraswimming received the most medals, the gymnasts and road cyclists the least. Female elite athletes participate more in elite sport than 10 years ago and have won more medals than men in recent years. Paralympic elite athletes also achieve more medals than regular elite athletes and are in the top 10 of the Paralympic Games. Watching sports 59% of the Dutch watch sports in the media at least once a month, especially men and the elderly. Despite the internet, television is still the most popular medium. Women watch sports less through the media than men. Popular media sports for men are football, Formula 1, and cycling. Women watch skating and swimming more often than men. 45% of the Dutch have attended a professional sports event at least once in the past year (excluding 2020). 33% of men attend elite sporting events at least monthly, 12% of women do so as well. Young people attend sporting events more often than older people. The sports market Total expenditure on sports in the Netherlands in 2018 was 5,7 billion euros. 2,8 billion of this was spent by athletes themselves on sports activities, of which 1,8 billion on commercial sports providers and 1 billion on contributions, catering costs, and other costs at sports clubs. The public sector spent 2,5 billion euros on sports in 2018, of which the local authorities accounted for the majority (2,2 billion), which was mainly spent on sports facilities and sports and recreation facilities in the open space. From 2008 onwards, expenditure on this has decreased by an average of 1% per year, while the use of public facilities for sports has increased. Source: Sports Branch Report Netherlands, KPMG 2019, commissioned by NL Sportraad (National Sports Council) 7 Paul Bence
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