MARK BULT TAKES OVER NETHERLANDS NATIONAL TEAM
Former Dutch international Mark Bult has been appointed as the new head coach of the Netherlands men’s national handball team.
The Dutch Handball Federation confirmed the appointment of the 44-year-old, who succeeds Staffan Olsson and takes charge with immediate effect.
Bult will combine his new role with his current position as head coach of German second-division side HSG Nordhorn-Lingen, where he has been working since 2024.
“It is very special for me to become the national coach of the Netherlands,” said Bult. “Oranje played an important role in my own handball career as a player and I am proud that I can now bring my knowledge and experience into this role.”
The former right back earned 85 caps for the Netherlands during his playing career and spent many years in German handball, representing clubs including HSG Nordhorn, Füchse Berlin, VfL Gummersbach and SG Flensburg-Handewitt.
After ending his playing career, Bult moved directly into coaching at Flensburg, where he spent seven seasons as part of the technical staff. During that period, the club won the German Bundesliga title twice.
Bult now takes over from Staffan Olsson, who had been in charge of the Netherlands since 2022.
During Olsson’s spell, Oranje established themselves as regular participants at major international tournaments. The Netherlands competed at the 2023 and 2025 IHF World Championships, as well as EHF EURO 2024.
At the 2025 World Championship, the Dutch reached the main round and finished 12th overall.
The immediate target for Bult will be qualification for EHF EURO 2028.
Bult’s first training camp with Oranje begins on 2 November, while his official debut will come three days later, on 5 November, when the Netherlands host Finland in ’s-Hertogenbosch. The Dutch then travel to Lithuania for their second EURO qualifier on 8 November.
“We have a great generation of players, with a lot of quality and international experience,” Bult said. “I am looking forward to building a team together with the staff and players that represents the Netherlands with pride and can continue taking important steps in the coming years.”
