Netherlands Ice Hockey Association

Netherlands Ice Hockey Association, also known as IJshockey Nederland and IJNL, is a privately owned organization headquartered in the Netherlands. Founded in 1934, the organization functions as the official governing body of ice hockey in the Netherlands. It was initially established as the Nederlandse IJshockey Bond in 1933, joining the International Ice Hockey Federation on January 20, 1935. In 1946, it created the Eredivisie, and its organizational name was changed from NIJB to IJNL in 2017. The association currently governs four divisions: The North Sea Cup (a professional league formerly known as the Eredivisie or 'Premier league'), the Eerste Divisie ('First Division,' an amateur league), and the 2nd and 3rd divisions (recreational). It also oversees the Dutch national men's ice hockey team, the Dutch national women's ice hockey team, the Dutch national men's junior ice hockey team, and the Dutch national men's under 18 ice hockey team.