Dutch Taekwondo Association

History

The Taekwondo Bond Nederland was founded on 1 April 1979 as a Dutch association for the Korean martial art of taekwondo.

Over the following decades, the association developed a nationwide structure with clubs, districts, training programs, examinations, competitions, and selection teams. As a result, taekwondo grew into a recognized part of organized sport in the Netherlands.

The TBN is affiliated with the European Taekwondo Union and World Taekwondo, the international organizations representing the sport and its competition structure.

Activities and role

The TBN organizes and supports competitions in full-contact sparring and forms, including district championships, Dutch championships, and Open Dutch championships.

The association facilitates training courses for trainers, judges, and examiners and supports the development of officials and other staff within the sport.

Dan and poom examinations are also part of the association's structure. The TBN conducts examinations recognized by Kukkiwon and connects athletic development with technical knowledge and grading.

International affiliation

The TBN is affiliated with the European Taekwondo Union (ETU) and World Taekwondo (WT).

According to the organization’s own information, the TBN is the Dutch taekwondo body recognized by NOC*NSF. Through this international and national integration, Dutch athletes can participate in a broader competition and development structure.

Impact and significance

The TBN brings taekwondo in the Netherlands together around clubs, training programs, exams, competitions and elite sport. This allows athletes to develop within a continuous structure, from their first trial lesson to the national team.

The organization also preserves the breadth of the sport. Sparring, poomsae, youth, masters, officials, trainers and examiners each have a place within the taekwondo community.