Casper van der Veen: The Dutch Captain Who’s Lighting Up the Junior Hockey World Cup 2025
You can’t miss Casper van der Veen on the field. Standing over six feet tall with broad shoulders, he towers above defenders as if the entire pitch belongs to him.
That dominance was crystal clear when the Netherlands faced Malaysia at the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup 2025 in Madurai. The shorter Malaysian players stretched to reach him, prompting a smile from the umpire as Van der Veen brushed past them.
Van der Veen isn’t just imposing in size; his early career already shows a trail of achievements. By the age of 21, he had secured a gold and a silver medal at the EuroHockey Junior Championship, and he earned four caps for the senior Netherlands team during the 2024-25 FIH Pro League, even scoring in a 3-3 draw with Belgium.
He stands out as one of the select players to have appeared in three editions of the Junior World Cup, a testament to his longevity and consistency at the highest youth level.
“Playing in three World Cups feels amazing. It’s an honor to captain the team,” the attacker told Sportstar.
The Dutch squad held their breath when Van der Veen took a knee blow from a fierce shot by Finn van Bijnen in their opening match against England, forcing him to leave early. He returned in the next period to help his side regain the lead.
“I’m not feeling great, but the physios have done their job,” he said after the game. True to form, the medical team got him back on the field, where he resumed leadership in the clash against Malaysia. His two goals in the opening quarter helped Jong Oranje roll to a 6-0 victory, with a striking second goal—a reverse-hit from a sharp angle—getting the Madurai crowd on its feet.
Teammate Joppe Wolbert remarked, “When he has the ball, you know he won’t lose it. He’s always an option because he understands what to do in key moments.” He added that Van der Veen’s experience is something the younger players can lean on, even though his position high up the pitch can make communication tricky at times. Still, he noted that Van der Veen speaks during intervals and places a lot of trust in the squad.
Against Austria in their third Pool match, Van der Veen’s playing time was limited in the first half. But a player of his caliber can’t stay quiet for long. He delivered a hat-trick in the fourth quarter, guiding the team to an emphatic 11-0 win and into the knockout stage on a high note.
Head coach Jesse Mahieu praised the captain’s impact: “He’s incredibly strong. We rely on him when pressure mounts. His experience with Bloemendaal in the Hoofdklasse, plus multiple national-team camps, means he’s always coaching and lifting the group.”
Van der Veen embraces his role as the team’s focal point. “Leading the team is rewarding. It shows the younger players that I’m there for them. They can come to me with questions or when they’re feeling down,” he said.
With back-to-back fifth-place finishes in previous Junior World Cups, the Dutch believe this year’s talisman could push the squad toward the semifinals and beyond.
Published on Dec 03, 2025
