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[[Image:KingdomGames07 01.jpg|thumb|350px|Flag at the 2007 Kingdom Games]]
The '''Kingdom Games''' ({{langx|nl|Koninkrijksspelen}}, {{langx|pap|Weganan di Reino}}) was a multi-sport event, held every two years between the youth of the countries in the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]. At the final edition in 2009, these countries were the [[Netherlands]], the [[Netherlands Antilles]] and [[Aruba]]. The 2010 [[dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles]] led to the cancellation of the 2011 and 2013 editions of the Games, and ultimately the Games were discontinued in 2014.<ref name=NOC*NSF>{{cite web|url=http://213.53.109.67/cms/showpage.aspx?id=3279|language=nl|access-date=2011-10-28|title=Curacao 2011|publisher=[[NOC*NSF]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810173604/http://213.53.109.67/cms/showpage.aspx?id=3279|archive-date=2011-08-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In addition to creating a sportive atmosphere, respect and fraternization were also central themes of the Games. The contact between the countries and their cultures was the main theme.<ref>[http://www.koninkrijksspelen.org/2007/index.php?p=84 Kingdom Games] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710193702/http://www.koninkrijksspelen.org/2007/index.php?p=84 |date=2007-07-10 }}, koninkrijksspelen.org</ref>

==History==
The first ever Kingdom Games were held in 1965. It was an attempt to bring the parts of the Kingdom closer together. These parts were the Netherlands, [[Suriname (Kingdom of the Netherlands)|Suriname]] and the Netherlands Antilles. In 1975, Suriname gained independence and did no longer take part in the Games. Between 1979 and 1983, the Games included the Netherlands and the Antilles.<ref name="persbericht">[http://www.koninkrijksspelen.org/2007/images/140707persberichtKoninkrijksspelen.pdf Press notification on July 14, 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926223939/http://www.koninkrijksspelen.org/2007/images/140707persberichtKoninkrijksspelen.pdf |date=September 26, 2007 }}, koninkrijksspelen.org</ref> In 1995, the Games were refounded by former swimmer and politician [[Erica Terpstra]] to bring the youth of the countries closer together.

==Locations of the Games==
*1995: [[Aruba]]
*1997: [[Curaçao]] (Netherlands Antilles)
*1999: [[Sint Maarten]] (Netherlands Antilles)
*2001: [[Rotterdam]] (Netherlands)
*2003: [[Aruba]]
*2005: [[Willemstad]] (Netherlands Antilles)
*2007: [[The Hague]] (Netherlands)
*2009: [[Aruba]]
*2011: [[Curaçao]] – ''cancelled''

== Popularity ==
In the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, the Games were popular. In 2005, the [[Ergilio Hato-stadion]] in [[Curaçao]] was almost sold out during the opening ceremony. It was much less popular in the Netherlands. In 2007, the opening ceremony was not held in a stadium but at the [[Spuiplein]]. A few thousand people showed up, and the events were visited by several hundreds of people per day.<ref name="kinggames07">[http://www.algemeendagblad.nl ''Publiekstrekker ontbreekt; interesse voor Koninkrijksspelen in Nederland nooit groot geweest'', d.d. 21 July 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012023437/http://www.algemeendagblad.nl/ |date=12 October 2007 }}, algemeendagblad.nl</ref>

== Sports ==
[[Image:KingdomGames07 02.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Two swimmers compete at the 2007 Kingdom Games]]
The following sports were scheduled at the Games:

* [[Baseball]]
* [[Bowling]]
* [[Association football|Football]]
* [[Judo]]
* [[Softball]]
* [[Swimming (sport)|Swimming]]
* [[Tennis]]

The strength of the team of the Netherlands used to be adjusted to the strength of the other teams, because normally the level of the Dutch team would have been much higher compared to the other participants. The Dutch normally participated with regional teams or younger sportspeople to close the gap in quality.<ref name="kinggames07"/>

==Participating teams==
* {{ARU}}<ref name=history>{{cite web|title=Koninkrijksspelen |url=http://213.53.109.67/koninkrijksspelen |publisher=NOC*NSF |access-date=29 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810174225/http://213.53.109.67/koninkrijksspelen |archive-date=10 August 2011 }}</ref>
* {{AHO}}<ref name=history />
* {{NED}}<ref name=history />
* {{SUR}} – Participated between 1965 and 1975 until independence.<ref name=history />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110810173604/http://213.53.109.67/cms/showpage.aspx?id=3279 NOC-NSF site] General info on the Games from the [[NOC*NSF]].

{{Multi-sport events}}

[[Category:National multi-sport events|Netherlands]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1995]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Youth sport in the Netherlands]]