A survey by the Mulier Institute found that acceptance of gay athletes at Dutch sports clubs had declined in recent years. The share of athletes who said they had no problem with a gay teammate fell from 85% in 2008 to 66%, while agreement that they would have no objection to sharing a changing room with a gay athlete of the same sex fell from 73% to 55%. The study also found that fewer athletes believed coming out would be unproblematic, although reported attention to gay acceptance at clubs increased from 12% in 2017 to 28% in 2026.

The Mulier Institute said the findings reflected a broader negative trend in attitudes toward homosexuality among young people. NOC*NSF called the results particularly regrettable and said it would continue working on inclusive sport. The John Blankenstein Foundation described the decline as alarming and said parents sometimes object to its workshops. Initiatives including the Safe Changing Room project in Drenthe aim to promote inclusion, while the Dutch government has committed new funding for gender and lhbti+ equality. The KNVB's OneLove armband campaign had faced refusals from players, and the football association decided to end it from 2023, a decision criticized by the foundation.