A Dutch Example: How Is the National Pole and Aerial Sports System Organised?
A Dutch Example Worth Looking At: How Pole and Aerial Sports Are Organised in the Netherlands
The development of pole and aerial sports in the Netherlands provides an interesting example of how a sport can build a structured national and international framework.
The Dutch Aerial & Pole Federation (DAPF) describes itself as the Dutch national sports federation for aerial and pole sports. It represents athletes, coaches, instructors and the wider community, and works to develop the sport, improve quality and safety, organise national competitions and support athletes competing internationally.
At international level, DAPF is connected to the International Pole and Aerial Sports Federation (IPSF), the international governing body for pole and aerial sports. The IPSF officially lists DAPF as the endorsed national federation for the Netherlands.
More Than Performance: A Structured Competitive Sport
The Dutch model is interesting because pole and aerial sports are organised through a clearly defined competitive structure.
DAPF organises the annual Dutch National Aerial & Pole Championships (NK Aerial & Pole). According to DAPF, this is the national championship for pole sport and aerial sports in the Netherlands and the only IPSF-recognised competition in the country that provides athletes with an opportunity to qualify for the IPSF World Championships.
The competition includes disciplines such as Pole Sports, Artistic Pole, Aerial Pole and other aerial disciplines, with athletes competing across different age groups and categories.
The rules are not simply determined by the organisers of an individual event. DAPF states that IPSF rules are leading, with athletes competing according to the relevant IPSF Code of Points for their discipline.
This creates a system in which national competitions are directly connected to an international competitive structure.
A National Federation Connected to the Dutch Sports System
One of the most interesting aspects of the Dutch example is that DAPF does not operate in isolation.
Since 2021, DAPF has been affiliated with the Nederlandse Algemene Danssport Bond (NADB), the Dutch General Dance Sports Association. Through this relationship, DAPF is linked to NOC*NSF, the Dutch Olympic Committee and national sports federation.
DAPF explains that its members also become members of NADB, and that this makes various NOC*NSF-related facilities available to athletes and the federation. These include services connected with safe sport, sports medicine and sports arbitration.
The NADB itself also describes DAPF as the Dutch sports federation for pole and aerial sports and confirms its connection to NADB and, through NADB, to NOC*NSF.
In simple terms, the structure can be viewed as:
National level:
DAPF → NADB → NOC*NSF
International level:
DAPF → IPSF → International competitions and World Championships
This gives the Dutch system both a national sports-management connection and an international competitive framework.
From National Championships to the World Championships
The national championship is therefore more than a standalone domestic event.
Athletes competing at the Dutch National Aerial & Pole Championships can compete under the IPSF rules and, depending on the discipline and category, qualify for the IPSF World Championships. DAPF also brings qualified Dutch athletes together as TeamNL and supports them where possible.
The connection is also reflected in the competition requirements. DAPF's 2026 athlete information states that IPSF rules apply to the Dutch Championships, while anti-doping procedures can be carried out by the Dutch Anti-Doping Authority in cooperation with WADA and NOC*NSF.
This illustrates how an aerial or pole athlete can move through a recognisable pathway:
Athlete → National Championship → National Team → World Championship
Why the Dutch Example Is Interesting
The Dutch model is not necessarily something that can simply be copied into another country. Every national sports system has its own legal, institutional and organisational framework.
Nevertheless, it is an interesting example to examine.
The Netherlands has a national organisation dedicated to pole and aerial sports, an officially recognised connection to the IPSF, a national championship, defined competition rules, qualified officials and a pathway towards international competition.
At the same time, DAPF is connected through NADB to the wider Dutch sports structure and NOC*NSF.
This means that what the audience sees as a spectacular performance in the air is supported by a much broader structure behind the scenes:
athletes, coaches, judges, rules, national championships, federation structures, anti-doping procedures, athlete support and international competition.
The Dutch example therefore raises an interesting question for other countries as well:
How can pole and aerial sports continue to develop as organised competitive sports while building strong national structures and international connections?
For the Hungarian aerial and pole community, the Dutch experience is certainly worth knowing about — not necessarily as a model to copy, but as one example of how another European country has organised and connected its sport at national and international level.
Sources
Dutch Aerial & Pole Federation (DAPF) – Official website
DAPF – Partnerships and official affiliations
NADB – Aerial & Pole in the Netherlands
