This article contains information regarding the organisations enjoying a strong branding presence across the Netherlands men’s and/or women’s national football teams’ physical and digital assets as sponsors and partners of the Royal Dutch Football Association.
Name of the football association: Royal Dutch Football Association (Dutch: Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond; KNVB)
Also read: UEFA Euro 2024 Sponsors
PARTNERS OF FOOTBALL
ING
The Amsterdam-headquartered financial institution has been a principal partner of the KNVB since 1996 and the front-of-shirt sponsor of its national teams’ training kits since January 2010.
In August 2020, ING and the KNVB expanded their partnership to include women’s football in the country, as an attempt to further professionalise the Dutch women’s football divisions. This also made ING a main sponsor of the Dutch women’s top-flight, the Women’s Eredivisie (Vrouwen Eredivisie).
In March 2022, the two parties extended their partnership in a deal set to run until 2028.
Nike
The American sportswear giant has been the official kit supplier to the KNVB-affiliated national teams since 1996, when it replaced rival Italian brand Lotto.
The KNVB and Nike have enjoyed a long, mutually beneficial partnership, which has been renewed and improved multiple times over the last 24 years. Their current deal is set to run until 2030.
Nederlandse Loterij (Dutch State Lottery)
The Dutch State Lottery has been a sponsor of the KNVB and its national teams and domestic tournaments since 1999. The two parties work together to raise money that goes directly towards the development of Dutch grassroots football.
KPN
The Rotterdam-headquartered Dutch telecom company has served as a main partner to the KNVB since August 2017. The partnership sees the two parties work on several projects, including fan engagement activities, exclusive fan experience opportunities, and co-branded football clinics.
In January 2021, KPN was announced as a launching partner of E_Oranje, the KNVB-affiliated Dutch national esports team.
The two parties last renewed their partnership in September 2023. Their current deal is set to run until 2026.
Albert Heijn
The Zaandam-headquartered Dutch supermarket chain began its association with the KNVB by becoming an official partner of the Netherlands women’s national football team in May 2019.
In March 2020, the KNVB and Albert Heijn expanded their association to include all of the former’s national teams and domestic tournaments.
The partnership sees the KNVB and Albert Heijn work extensively on several fan engagement activities as well as promote a healthy eating lifestyle, with the latter holding image rights to feature Dutch national players in its promotional content.
Bitvavo
The Amsterdam-headquartered Dutch online crypto exchange platform was announced as a top-tier sponsor of the KNVB in March 2022.
In March 2024, the two parties extended their partnership until 2026.
DOMAIN PARTNERS
ARAG
The Utrecht-based Dutch legal service provider and legal expenses insurer has been an official partner of the KNVB since January 2011.
The partnership is focused on sponsoring the referees across the country and raising awareness regarding their importance—for they ensure that the game is played in a fair manner—across the professional and amateur levels of football.
The branding rights incorporated into the deal have the ARAG logo featuring on the uniforms of all KNVB-appointed referees and officials.
DHL
The Bonn-headquartered German courier service has been the logistics partner of the KNVB and an official partner of the Netherlands women’s national football team since March 2022.
The partnership with the KNVB is a part of DHL’s #SameDream initiative, through which it intends to support women’s sports across the Netherlands and has similar deals in place to also support the Dutch women’s national teams of hockey, volleyball and handball via partnerships with each sport’s national governing body.
The partnership also sees one Netherlands international from each team of the aforementioned sports serving as a DHL brand ambassador. Jackie Groenen fills this role from the football team alongside handball player Lois Abbingh, hockey player Pien Sanders, and volleyball player Laura Dijkema.
Heineken
The Amsterdam-headquartered Dutch brewery has been an official partner of the KNVB since 1994. The partnership sees the two parties work extensively on several fan engagement activities as well as promote a healthy eating lifestyle across the amateur levels of Dutch football.
The KNVB and Heineken last extended their partnership in a five-year agreement in August 2019.
Mitsubishi Electric
The Chiyoda City, Tokyo-based Japanese electronics and electrical equipment manufacturing company joined the KNVB partnership portfolio in June 2022 on a two-season deal.
Apart from branding rights, the deal entails Mitsubishi Electric supporting the KNVB Green Club initiative (De Groene Club, launched on 2017), which is aimed at helping football clubs and organisations across the Netherlands become more sustainable over time.
Unilever
The London-headquartered consumer goods company has had a long-standing association with the KNVB. Initially, their partnership was centred around the Dutch women’s national side via Unilever’s peanut butter brand Calvé Peanut Butter to spread love and inspire children to achieve their big dreams.
In March 2021, the deal was expanded to the men’s game via Unilever’s soap brand Lifebuoy to promote the importance of hygiene, exercise and healthy diet.
Volkswagen
The Wolfsburg-headquartered German automaker became the KNVB’s sustainable mobility partner in March 2021. The deal sees Volkswagen provide its fleet of carbon-friendly vehicles—both passenger and commercial—to the Dutch football association’s staff. The two also work closely together to reduce overall CO2 emissions and help the KNVB with its sustainability goals.
The two had previously worked together between 2014 and 2017 as well.
In November 2023, the two parties renewed their partnership until 2028.
SUPPORTERS
Cannondale
Cannondale, an American bicycle-manufacturing and supplying division of Dutch transport-sector conglomerate Pon Holdings, was announced as the Official Bike Partner of the KNVB in March 2023.
Apart from branding rights, the deal, covering the Dutch men’s, women’s and youth national football teams, sees Cannondale supply the KNVB with orange-coloured mountain bikes that are used by the players to travel to and from the KNVB Campus in Zeist, where they train when on international duty.
Cavallaro Napoli
The Haarlem-based Dutch luxury fashion brand has been the official formalwear partner of the KNVB since March 2018. The deal sees Cavallaro Napoli provide bespoke formalwear suits to the KNVB’s men’s and women’s national football teams’ players.
The two parties last renewed their deal in May 2023 in a deal set to run until the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
DPG Media
The Amsterdam-based Dutch division of Belgian media company DPG Media has been a partner of the KNVB since 2016.
The partnership sees DPG Media offer the KNVB advertising space across its digital and print issues. The two parties also roll out co-branded initiatives around and during major FIFA and UEFA national-team tournaments in which KNVB-affiliated Dutch national teams participate.
Apart from covering the Dutch men’s and women’s national teams, DPG Media’s partnership with the KNVB also sees support provided to amateur football across the country.
The deal between the two parties is currently set to run until the end of UEFA Euro 2024.
GASSAN Diamonds
The Amsterdam-based Dutch jeweller and diamond dealer has been the Official Celebration Partner of the KNVB since November 2022.
Apart from branding rights, the deal, covering both the men’s and women’s national football teams of the Netherlands, entails GASSAN catering to the KNVB’s jewellery requirements for its celebratory events.
Radio 538
The Hilversum-based Dutch commercial radio station has served as a Media Partner to the KNVB since 2005. The partnership sees Radio 538 offer exclusive fan experience opportunities to the supporters of the Dutch national teams. Players and staff members from the national teams also often partake in Radio 538’s events.
In June 2024, the KNVB announced a partnership renewal agreement with Talpa Network, the Dutch media conglomerate that owns Radio 538. As per this agreement, Radio 538 is to remain a KNVB Media Partner until at least the summer of 2025.
Revolt
The Amsterdam-based Dutch startup, specialising in sustainable charging solutions, has officially had a collaboration agreement in place with the KNVB since June 1, 2023.
Apart from branding rights, the deal entails Revolt supporting the KNVB Green Club initiative, as per which the company has pledged to install hundreds of charging stations across football organisations in the Netherlands by 2025.
SAS
The North Carolina-based analytics software developer has served as an official partner to the KNVB since October 2015.
Together with SAS, the KNVB has developed a Football Intelligence platform that helps the governing body monitor player performance as well as reach its marketing goals.
Zoover Sports & Events
Zoover Sports & Events is a Dutch travel management and event services provider headquartered in Zwolle and has served as the travel partner to the KNVB since 2014.
As per the deal, Zoover organises and manages travel for the KNVB-affiliated Dutch men’s and women’s national teams’ (both senior and youth) players as well as for non-playing official representatives and sponsors. It also provides an itinerary to the fans going to the international games.
In September 2023, the two parties renewed their partnership until 2030.
CUP PARTNERS
TOTO
The Rijswijk-based Dutch sports betting company—owned by Nederlandse Loterij—serves as the title sponsor to the KNVB Cup. TOTO’s partnership with the KNVB also sees the betting company provide support for amateur football across the country.
Heineken 0.0
In August 2019, when the KNVB and Heineken last extended their partnership in a five-year agreement, it was announced that the brewery’s non-alcoholic offering, Heineken 0.0, will gain promotional space during the final of the TOTO KNVB Cup. The same space was previously reserved for Heineken-owned beer brand Amstel, which had been enjoying promotion during the KNVB Cup final since 1995.
SOCIAL PARTNERS
Johan Cruyff Foundation
Launched by Johan Cruijff in 1997, the Johan Cruyff Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to offer sporting facilities and opportunities to children, especially children with disabilities. The organisation operates worldwide and has opened pitches for children—called “Cruyff Courts”—across many parts of the world.
The partnership between the KNVB and the Johan Cruyff Foundation has seen the two co-launch several football fields for children—called “Cruyff Courts KNVB Fields”—across the Netherlands.
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