A revolutionary bobsleigh: that's the Netherlands' secret weapon at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Dutch viewers will gather round the television in their millions to watch the exploits of the Netherlands' 36 Olympic hopefuls.

All eyes will be on long-track speed skating, the only winter sport at which the Dutch have excelled for decades. But watch out for a surprise in the bobsleigh.
 
Skater Sven Kramer is the sporting icon of the Dutch team. At the tender age of 23, he is three-times world champion and four-times European champion. Virtually unbeaten since 2007, he is also world record holder at 5 km (6.03.32 ) and 10 km (12.41.69) and the Netherlands is counting on him to bring home Olympic gold in these events.
 
He can add to his Vancouver gold medal haul as part of the Netherlands' team pursuit and if he manages to snatch a medal in the 1500 metres as well, his Olympic mission will be complete.
 
Suite at the Hilton
Kramer's status in the international skating world is undisputed. And he has the lifestyle to match. All the Dutch athletes have taken up residence in the Vancouver Olympic village. But not Sven Kramer. He will stay at a luxury suite at the Hilton and steer clear of the Olympic village. In preparing for the Games, he can count on the support of his glamorous girlfriend, Dutch hockey international Naomi van As.
 
In the women's skating events, Ireen Wüst is out to defend her Olympic title in the 3 km. At the 2006 Games in Turin, she surprised friend and foe by taking home the gold medal. Back then she gave her all without much thought to strategy. Now, four years older and wiser, she is once again determined to skate the race of her life.
 
Bobsleigh revolution
The big surprise at this year's Winter Olympics could end up coming from a different source altogether. In recent years, the Netherlands has been hard at work on a top-secret project to develop a revolutionary bobsleigh. The two-man bob has been dubbed "the hammerhead", a reference to the sleigh's striking aerodynamic nose.
 
For the first time ever, the Netherlands looks set to pose a threat to traditional bobsleigh superpowers such as Germany, Switzerland and the United States. Only a few years ago, the Netherlands was languishing in the junior league of the bobsleigh sport, with outdated equipment and pilots who barely had access to training facilities.
 
Ultramodern bob
That situation has changed dramatically. The Netherlands Olympic Committee increased the budget and attracted sponsorship from Eurotech, a long-time sponsor of motor sports. Last year, in collaboration with the Sports and Technology department at Eindhoven University of Technology and a number of innovative Dutch companies, the team set about building an ultramodern two-man bob behind closed doors.
 
Another Dutch outsider at the Games is snowboarder Nicolien Sauerbreij. The 30-year-old Amsterdammer is seen as having medal chances in the giant slalom. She's been there before, in 2002 at the Olympics in Salt Lake City and again in Turin in 2006. On both occasions her bid for glory ended in disappointment and now all her hopes are pinned on Vancouver. Her secret weapon is her Japanese snowboard, specially designed to cope with the salt crystals contained in the Vancouver snow, which comes drifting in from the Pacific. 
 
Holland Heineken House
Even outside the sporting arena, the Netherlands is busy making a name for itself on Canada's west coast. Ever since the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Dutch beer brand Heineken has worked with Netherlands Olympic Committee to set up a giant party centre in every Olympic host city: the Holland Heineken House (HHH).
 
It's the place where all the Dutch medal winners go to receive a rousing reception from their fans and supporters. It is also a setting where sponsors, the Dutch business community, media and sports officials can get together. The Dutch consulate in Vancouver has its own office in the building, as does Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, in his capacity as a member of the International Olympic Committee.
 
Countries like Canada, France and Russia also set up their own special venue during this Olympic Games. The big difference with the Netherlands' venue is that they charge a hefty admission fee and therefore mainly attract dignitaries and officials.
 
Emigrants
A Dutch passport is all you need to gain entry to the Holland Heineken House. This makes it a hotspot for Dutch sports fans and the countless Dutch nationals who have emigrated to Canada since the 1950s: 65,000 in the Vancouver area alone.

Take a virtual tour of the Holland Heineken House:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRSPrQKTLKA

(RNW translation: dd)