The Netherlands boycotted the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne as a protest against the Soviet invasion in Hungary just a few weeks before the beginning of the Games; however, one Dutch rider competed in the 1956 equestrian events, held in Stockholm a few months before the rest of the Games.

The Netherlands had expressed interest in hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics in either Amsterdam or Rotterdam, as a centennial celebration of the 1928 Games.

Dutch athletes have won 356 medals at the Summer Olympic Games, with swimming and cycling as the top medal-producing sports.

The nation has won another 147 medals at the Winter Olympic Games, of which 133 have come from speed skating.

Curaçao and Sint Maarten became separate constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.