Hockey in Belgium
BEL
FIH Rankings
The spectacular force of Belgian hockey
— CULTBelgian hockey has experienced the most spectacular rise of any European hockey country over the past two decades. The Royal Belgian Hockey Federation coordinates a competition structure in which traditional top clubs such as Royal Léopold, Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles, Dragons, Waterloo Ducks and La Gantoise meet weekly in the Belgian Hockey League. The heart of Belgian hockey lies in and around Brussels and Antwerp, with clubs that combine professional top-sport infrastructure with a distinctive social tradition.
What systemically sets Belgium apart is the BeGold programme, launched in the 2000s by the King Baudouin Foundation in cooperation with the hockey federation. The programme identifies talent at a young age and offers combined top-sport and study tracks with concentrated training in Brussels. BeGold is the direct cause of the Red Lions' Golden Generation, which won Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020 and the world title in 2018. The same structure now forms the foundation on which the Red Panthers have grown from rank thirteen to the global top five.
Head coach Rein van Eijk, who took over in 2024 from Raoul Ehren, builds on a legacy of Dutch influence. Ehren led the Red Panthers between 2020 and 2024 to a historic climb in the world ranking. His move to the Netherlands put pressure on the relationship between the two federations, but tactically much of his work is preserved: rapid transitions, a high press and a developed penalty-corner structure. Van Eijk, previously U21 world champion with the German youth team, adds his own emphasis on vertical transition hockey. As World Cup co-host, Belgium plays all its pool matches in the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre.
More about Belgium
— LAYERSNational women's team
ranked 3 FIHThe Red Panthers are the fastest-rising women's hockey side of the past decade. Under head coach Rein van Eijk, Belgium builds on the work of Raoul Ehren, who placed the team structurally in the global top five between 2020 and 2024. Captain Barbara Nelen, penalty-corner specialist Louise Versavel and forward Ambre Ballenghien form the core of a generation that wants to deliver everything at home.
What sets Belgium apart is the transformation made possible by the BeGold programme: a small country with a strong league and an elite training pathway with international appeal. The 2026 World Cup is a historic moment for the Red Panthers: as co-host they play their pool matches in Wavre, on home soil, against Spain, New Zealand and Ireland. The objective is simple — a first ever World Cup medal.
National men's team
ranked 1 FIHFederation
image: August 2026
Young Red Lions: geen medaille op EK U21 na nipte nederlagen tegen Nederland en Spanje - Hockey Belgium- Young Red Panthers op EK U21: groepswinst levert geen medaille op - Hockey Belgium
- Young Red Lions in de halve finale van het EK U21 in Valencia - Hockey Belgium
- Young Red Panthers eindigen op de eerste plaats in hun groep in Valencia - Hockey Belgium
- Young Red Panthers - Hockey Belgium
Clubs
Coming soon
Certified fields
70 certified (1 expired)Category 1
1 certifiedFields meeting the requirements for top-level international tournaments.
- Belfius Hockey Arena, WavrePolytanPoligras Platinum World Cup GT 11-40 MB EL 10Valid until: Oct 21, 2028
Category 2
49 certifiedFields for international and top-level national competitions.
- BruggeLano Sports NVS-tec Solution Xperience ET25Valid until: Feb 3, 2028
- Aalst Hockey T1, AalstSports & Leisure - DOMO Sports GrassDomo Fastplay M Institu 25Valid until: Mar 28, 2027
- Anderlecht Amicale, AnderlechtSports & Leisure - DOMO Sports GrassDomo Fastplay IS 15Valid until: Aug 23, 2027
- Royal Antwerp Hockey Club - Field 1, AntwerpLano SportsS-tec Solution Xperience IS 15Valid until: Aug 20, 2028
- Wilrijkse pleinen T2, AntwerpLano SportsHockey Solution IS 15Valid until: Jul 30, 2027
- HC Herakles-T1, BoechoutLano SportsS-tec Solution Xperience ET 25
- HC Herakles-T2, BoechoutLano SportsS-tec Solution Experience ET 25
- KHC Dragons – DRAG 1, BrasschaatGreenfieldsGreenfields TX Elite EL 15Valid until: Aug 14, 2028
- Royal Wellington THC, BrusselsCondor GrassHockey Ultra PE 13 EL20Valid until: Mar 10, 2028
- Indiana T2, De PinteLano SportsS-tec Orbion II ET 25Valid until: Sep 2, 2027
- Royal Victory Hockey Club Field 1, EdegemPolytanPoligras Platinum CoolPlus 11-42 MB EL15 RWValid until: Feb 17, 2027
- Embourg T1, EmbourgSports & LeisureDomo Fastplay IS 15Valid until: Oct 17, 2027
- Royal Evere White Star HC, EvereSports & Leisure - DOMO Sports GrassDomo FastPlay IS 15Valid until: Mar 3, 2028
- Royal Orée T1, EvereLano Sports NVS-tec Solution Xperience ET 25Valid until: Mar 7, 2027
- Hockey Club Genk, GenkLano SportsS-tec Solution Xperience ET 25Valid until: Feb 12, 2027
- Gantoise Arena, GhentPolytanPoligras Tokyo GT 11-43 EL 15Valid until: Jan 7, 2027
- RCA Grez Doiceau-T1, Grez DoiceauLano SportsS-tec Solution Xcellence ET25Valid until: May 7, 2028
- Merode T1, GrimbergenPolytanPoligras Mega CoolPlus 11-2-40 EL 15Valid until: Oct 30, 2026
- Merode T2, GrimbergenPolytanPoligras TeamPlay CP 11-38 MB ET25Valid until: Sep 5, 2027
- Koninklijke hockeyclub Leuven T1, Heverlee - LeuvenEdel GrassEdel ID. EL SystemValid until: Feb 8, 2028
- HIH Hoegaarden HC, HoegaardenLano SportsS-tec Solution Experience ET 25Valid until: Feb 17, 2028
- KMTHC Hombeek Field 1, HombeekCondor GrassHockey Ultra PE 13 EL 15Valid until: Mar 24, 2027
- Keerbergen Tigers, KeerbergenLano SportsS-tec Solution Xperience ET 25Valid until: Nov 14, 2027
- Braxgata main field, KontichLano Sports NVS-tec Solution Xperience IS15Valid until: Jan 30, 2027
- Royal Beerschot Tennis Hockey Club field 1, KontichLano SportsLano Hockey Solution IS 15Valid until: Dec 11, 2027
- Royal Beerschot Tennis Hockey Club field 2, KontichLano SportsLano Hockey Solution IS 15Valid until: Dec 11, 2027
- G.E.R. St-Georges, KortrijkEdel GrassEdel Triple-T systemValid until: Feb 10, 2028
- Kortrijk Lange Munte, KortrijkLano SportsS-tec Solution Xperience ET25Valid until: Oct 5, 2026
- Lokeren field 2, LokerenLano SportsS-Tec Solution Xperience IS 20mValid until: Nov 26, 2026
- Louvain La Neuve Hockey club-Field A, Louvain La NeuveSports & Leisure - DOMO Sports GrassDomo Fastplay IS 15Valid until: Jan 30, 2028
- Ascalon Hockey Club Mons T1, MonsSports & Leisure - DOMO Sports GrassDOMO Fast Play-IS15Valid until: Aug 5, 2028
- Hockey Namur - terrain 1, NamurLano SportsHockey Solution IS 15Valid until: Mar 17, 2028
- Hockey HC Dender, NinovePolytanPoligras Mega CoolPLus 11-2-40 EL 15Valid until: Sep 1, 2027
- Royal Pingouin Club Nivelles T1, NivellesLano Sports NVLano Hockey Solution IS 15Valid until: Sep 30, 2027
- Old Club de Liège-Rocourt, Rocourt-LuikLano Sports NVHockey Solution IS15Valid until: Feb 3, 2027
- Hockey Club Hermes, RonseEdel GrassEdel ID. EL 20 SystemValid until: Feb 5, 2028
- Stade Fallon Field 4, Sint-Lambrechts-WoluweLano SportsHockey Solution IS15Valid until: Mar 31, 2027
- Stade Fallon Field 5, Sint-Lambrechts-WoluweLano SportsS-tec Solution Xperience ET25Valid until: Mar 31, 2027
- HC Rapid Temse, TemseCondor GrassHockey Ultra PE 13 EL15Valid until: Feb 4, 2028
- Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles - T1, UccleLano SportsS-tec Solution Xperience ET25Valid until: Aug 2, 2027
- Royal Uccle Sport field 1, UccleLano SportsHockey Solution IS 20Valid until: Mar 11, 2028
- Royal Leopold field A, UkkelSports & Leisure Group NV - Domo Sports GrassDomo FastPlay IS15Valid until: Jan 28, 2027
- Waterloo Ducks Hockey Club - Field 2, WaterlooSports & LeisureDomo Fastplay IS 15Valid until: Nov 14, 2026
- Waterloo Ducks Hockey Club - Field 3, WaterlooSports & LeisureDomo Fastplay IS 15Valid until: Mar 4, 2027
- Belfus Hockey Arena, WavrePolytanPoligras Platinum World Cup GT 11-40 MB EL 10Valid until: Mar 6, 2029
- Lara T2, WavreLano SportsHockey Solution IS15Valid until: Jun 19, 2027
- Nautisport, Woluwe-Saint-PierreFieldTurfHockey Gold Speed L 13-31Valid until: Oct 29, 2026
- Wolu Sports Park, Woluwe-Saint-PierreSports & Leisure - DOMO Sports GrassDomolympic MDC/PValid until: Mar 2, 2028
- Westhoek Wildcats, YpresLano SportsS-Tec Solution Xperience IS 20Valid until: Jul 31, 2027
Category 3
15 certifiedFields for lower-level national, regional and club play.
- RSCA Andenne Arena, AndenneSports & Leisure - Domo Sports GrassDomo hockey Xtreme MDC / Proplay 20Valid until: Jun 16, 2029
- Indiana T3, De PinteLano SportsS-tec Orbion ERGO PE6
- Royal Baudouin Hockey Club, DilbeekGreenfieldsGreenfields TX Pro Plus (v2.0) ET25Valid until: Nov 18, 2027
- Royal La Louvière hockey club, La LouvièreSports & Leisure - Domo Sports GrassDomo Fastplay IS 25Valid until: Jan 13, 2028
- Louvain La Neuve Hockey club-Field B, Louvain La NeuveSports & Leisure - DOMO Sports GrassDomo Fastplay IS 15Valid until: Jan 30, 2028
- HCMM Maasmechelen, MaasmechelenEdel GrassEdel ID. Smart PFT SystemValid until: Aug 4, 2027
- HC Blackbirds, MassenhoveCondor GrassHockey Ultra PE18sd PRF10Valid until: May 17, 2027
- HC Intermol, Molenbeek-Saint-JeanFieldturfHockey Gold Elite 18-22.5 IS25Valid until: Aug 26, 2027
- Le Jaguar, PerwezEdel GrassEdel ID EL 20Valid until: Mar 30, 2028
- Roeselare T2, RoeselareAct Sports#AllStar 22-260 ISB25 SValid until: Jul 4, 2028
- Sportcentre Sint-Truiden, Sint-TruidenFieldTurfFieldturf Hockey Gold PRO 2.0 16-20.5 ALVEO 3001Valid until: May 21, 2028
- Sportpark Eeklo, Sportpark EekloFIELDTURF TARKETTHOCKEY GOLD PRO 18-17,5 IS 25Valid until: Aug 12, 2026
- GreenDevils, TernatPolytanPoligras TerraPlus 218 ET 35 SandValid until: Sep 10, 2027
- Diependal, TervurenLano SportsS-tec Solution Xperience ECO ET 25
- Lara T1, WavreSports & LeisureDomo Fastplay IS 15Valid until: Jun 19, 2027
Category 4
2 certified (1 expired)Hockey turf with line markings so other sports can also be played.
- Neo Hockey, BruxellesSports & Leisure - Domo Sports GrassDomo Hockey Xtreme MDC IS15Valid until: Apr 29, 2028
- Royal Ombrage Hockey Club, Woluwe St PierreSports & LeisureDomo Fastplay M Insitu 25Valid until: Apr 9, 2028
- Linkebeek, LinkebeekexpiredLano SportsS-tec Integration Xperience IS 20Expired: Jul 30, 2026
Dry Turf field
3 certifiedFields with enhanced playing qualities without water, used for national and local competitions.
- Indiana T2, De PinteLano SportsS-tec Orbion II ET 25 RewettaValid until: Sep 2, 2027
- Rix hockey club, RixensartSports & Leisure - DOMO Sports GrassDomo Hockey Xtreme MDC E-Layer 25Valid until: Jan 14, 2028
- HC Rotselaar, RotselaarLano SportsS-tec Orbion II ERGO-PE6Valid until: Oct 14, 2028
Coaches
Coming soon
Referees
Coming soon
Historical highlights
— HIST1927
FIH membership
Belgium becomes a member of the International Hockey Federation.
2018
World Cup gold (men) — Bhubaneswar
The Red Lions win Belgium's first world title.
2020
Olympic gold (men) — Tokyo
Historic Olympic gold for the Red Lions.
2024
Red Panthers reach the top 5
A structural place in the global top five under Raoul Ehren.
2026
World Cup co-host
Belgium hosts the World Cup in Wavre together with the Netherlands.