The Netherlands started its national association (NTB) in 1958 andparticipated in the Baltic Games in 1964. The NTB was very motivated for the international tug-of-war sport and staged the second European Champion in 1968 in Borculo. Since then the NTB has hosted more than ten (10) TWIF Championships in the Netherlands. Five of the these Championships have been organized in the "Bonte Wever", Slagharen, the eldorado for the international tug-of-war sport which unfortunately was destroyed by fire in May 2001. The first TWIF World Championships was staged in 1975 in Doetinchem and the last three TWIF Championships were in Assen near the "Smelt".  The Netherlands participated in 252 TWIF competitions and has won 8 World Games titles, 26 World titles and 17 European titles. Mr. Co Koren became TWIF Vice President in 1980 and was elected President after the death of Fugi Fuchs in 1983; he remained in that office until his retirement in May 2007.