Netherlands
The tug-of-war sport in the Netherlands in 1920 was part of the Athletic association, but like in other countries after the removal of the tug-of-war sport from the Olympic programme, the sport was neglected by the Athletic association. The tug-of-war sport however continued in many forms (see 1924). The sport was very popular in villages in the eastern part of the Netherlands and in several villages clubs were formed. In 1955 Mr. Jan Willem Markink founded the club Heure. In 1959 he was also one of the initiators to organize competitions with other neighbouring clubs and they decided to establish the regional tug-of-war association, the Achterhoekse Touwtrek Bond (ATB), soon to be transformed into the national association the Nederlandse Touwtrek Bond (NTB).Mr. Markink became also the first President of the NTB. In this position he attended five years later the Baltic Games in Malmo, where the Netherlands joined TWIF. (see 1964) Heure is still an active and successful club in the Netherlands
