VA advises NOC*NSF to extend aspirant status of the Nederlandse Vechtsportbond

The Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit (VA, the Dutch Martial Arts Authority) has advised NOC*NSF (the Dutch Olympic Committee and Dutch Sports Federation) to extend the aspirant status of the Nederlandse Vechtsportbond (NVB, the Dutch martial arts federation). The intention was that the NVB would become a full member of the national sports umbrella organisation after two years of aspirant membership. However, the organisation still has important steps to take before it can function as a fully fledged sports federation. In line with the VA's advice, NOC*NSF has decided to extend the aspirant status. Ahead of the next general assembly in November, it will again be examined and assessed whether the necessary improvements have been implemented and whether the NVB can become a full member.

In recent years, the VA and NOC*NSF worked closely together to turn the NVB into a fully fledged federation. On 4 October 2025, the VA shared an interim assessment with NOC*NSF. In it, concerns were raised about developments. Although cooperation with the operational organisation under the leadership of the new NVB director is positive and constructive, the VA unfortunately sees too little positive development at governance level.

All existing martial arts organisations were to be merged into the NVB, and the federation was to coordinate the assignment of officials. This has still not been arranged. The VA addressed the NVB on several occasions about breaches of the Code for Good Sports Governance (Code Goed Sportbestuur), including at member organisations WAKO and MON. Here too, no improvement is visible as yet. The VA still carries out a number of federation tasks because the NVB has not yet taken them over. The NVB was to set up an anti-doping programme; this has also not been realised. The VA has also been urging for some time for a more representative board, in which the amateur branch is currently overrepresented.

Given its independent role and on the basis of all objective facts and developments, the VA could only advise against granting the NVB full membership of NOC*NSF directly at the general assembly of 1 June 2026. The VA advised extending the aspirant membership and setting out concrete points for improvement that the NVB must implement.

On 30 April, NOC*NSF informed the NVB that, in line with the VA's advice, it has decided to extend the federation's aspirant membership until the general assembly of the national sports umbrella organisation in November 2026. Concrete points for improvement have also been set out that would make full membership possible. The VA remains committed to achieving one strong, well-functioning and fully fledged martial arts federation, and believes this will succeed if the necessary improvements are implemented.