Naomi van As
A dynamic midfielder whose vision and skill were central to the Dutch field hockey dynasty that dominated the world for nearly a decade.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Dutch former field hockey player·Birthday: July 26·Millennials
Biography
Naomi van As played with the kind of effortless grace that made the complex art of field hockey look simple. As a fixture in the Dutch midfield throughout their golden era, she was the connective tissue between defense and attack, capable of dismantling an opponent's press with a single deft touch. Her game intelligence and technical mastery were perfectly suited to the flowing, possession-based style that made the Netherlands nearly unbeatable. Van As wasn't just a participant in this era of supremacy; she was a driving force, contributing crucial goals and assists in the highest-pressure moments. Her career, spent almost entirely with her club MHC Laren and the national team, represents a period of unprecedented success in Dutch hockey, where winning became not just an expectation but a beautiful, shared expression of the sport.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Naomi was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Naomi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Naomi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two Olympic gold medals with the Netherlands, at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games.
- Lifted the Hockey World Cup trophy in 2014 as a key member of the victorious Dutch squad.
- Earned over 200 international caps for the Dutch national team during her career.
Did You Know?
She studied medicine at the VU University Amsterdam while competing at the highest level of her sport.
She is the daughter of former Dutch international field hockey player Marc van As.
After retiring, she worked as a physician and remained involved in hockey as a television analyst.
“The ball must move faster than the opponent can think.”
