The Netherlands competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Republic of Korea. 147 competitors, 93 men and 54 women, took part in 86 events in 17 sports.^[1]

The following is the list of number of competitors in the Games.^[2]

Martinus Reniers made his third appearance for the Netherlands in archery. He had his best finish yet, advancing to the final and ending up in 5th place. The Dutch women, both new to Olympic competition, were not as successful.

Key

• Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
• Q = Qualified for the next round
• q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
• NR = National record
• N/A = Round not applicable for the event
• Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

Men

Track & road events

Field events

Combined events – Decathlon

Women

Track & road events

Women's 100 metres

• Nelli Cooman

• Heat 1 — 11.22s
• Heat 2 — 11.08s
• Semi Final — 11.13s (→ did not advance)

• Els Scharn

• Heat 1 — 11.38s
• Heat 2 — 11.51s (→ did not advance)

Women's 400 metres

• Yvonne van Dorp

• Heat 1 — 52.84s
• Heat 2 — 53.50s (→ did not advance)

Women's 1.500 metres

• Elly van Hulst

• Heat — 4:07.40 (→ did not advance)

Women's 3.000 metres

• Elly van Hulst

• Heat — 8:48.54
• Final — 8:43.92 (→ 9th place)

Women's Marathon

• Carla Beurskens

• Final — 2'37:52 (→ 34th place)

Women's 100m Hurdles

• Marjan Olyslager

• Heat 1 — 13.04s
• Heat 2 — 13.02s
• Semi Final — 13.08s (→ did not advance)

• Gretha Tromp

• Heat 1 — 13.48s
• Heat 2 — 13.42s (→ did not advance)

Women's 400m Hurdles

• Gretha Tromp

• Heat 1 — 56.11s
• Semi Final — 57.57s (→ did not advance)

Women's 4 × 100 m Relay

• Nelli Cooman, Gretha Tromp, Marjan Olyslager, and Els Scharn

• Heat 1 — 43.96s
• Semi Final — 43.48s (→ did not advance)

Field events

Women's Long Jump

• Marjon Wijnsma

• Qualification — 6.39m (→ did not advance)

Women's Heptathlon

• Marjon Wijnsma

• Final Round — 6205 points (→ 11th place)

Men's Featherweight (57 kg)

• Regilio Tuur

• First Round — Defeated Kelcie Banks (USA) on knock-out
• Second Round — Defeated John Wanjau (Kenya) on points
• Third Round — Defeated David Anderson (Great Britain) on points
• Quarter Finals — Lost to Daniel Dumitrescu (Romania) on points

Men's Heavyweight (91 kg)

• Arnold Vanderlyde → Bronze Medal

• First Round — Bye
• Second Round — Defeated Henry Akinwande (Great Britain) on points
• Quarter Finals — Defeated Gyula Alvics (Hungary) on points
• Semi Finals — Lost to Ray Mercer (USA) after referee stopped contest

Thirteen cyclists, ten men and three women, represented the Netherlands in 1988. Monique Knol won gold in the women's road race.

Men's road race

• Michel Zanoli — 4:32:56 (→ 15th place)
• Rob Harmeling — 4:32:56 (→ 38th place)
• Tom Cordes — 4:32:56 (→ 42nd place)

Men's team time trial

• Tom Cordes
• Gerrit de Vries
• Maarten den Bakker
• Michel Zanoli

Men's 1 km time trial

• Thierry Détant

Men's individual pursuit

• Erik Cent

Men's team pursuit

• Marcel Beumer
• Erik Cent
• Leo Peelen
• Mario van Baarle

Men's points race

• Leo Peelen

Women's road race

• Monique Knol — 2:00:52 (→ Gold Medal)
• Heleen Hage — 2:00:52 (→ 19th place)
• Cora Westland — 2:01:50 (→ 46th place)

Men's 3m Springboard

• Edwin Jongejans — 588.330 points (→ 8th place)

Women's 3m Springboard

• Daphne Jongejans — 465.450 points (→ 8th place)

Five fencers, all male, represented the Netherlands in 1988.

Men's épée

• Stéphane Ganeff
• Arwin Kardolus
• Michiel Driessen

Men's team épée

• Paul Besselink, Michiel Driessen, Stéphane Ganeff, Arwin Kardolus, Olaf Kardolus

Men's 50m Freestyle

• Hans Kroes

• Heat — 23.50 (→ did not advance, 20th place)

Men's 100m Freestyle

• Hans Kroes

• Heat — 51.65 (→ did not advance, 29th place)

• Patrick Dybiona

• Heat — 51.79 (→ did not advance, 30th place)

Men's 200m Freestyle

• Patrick Dybiona

• Heat — 1:52.67 (→ did not advance, 24th place)

Men's 100m Breaststroke

• Ron Dekker

• Heat — 1:03.08
• B-Final — 1:03.22 (→ 10th place)

Men's 200m Breaststroke

• Ron Dekker

• Heat — 2:20.84 (→ did not advance, 26th place)

Men's 100m Butterfly

• Frank Drost

• Heat — 55.38 (→ did not advance, 19th place)

Men's 200m Butterfly

• Frank Drost

• Heat — 2:00.99
• B-Final — 2:01.59 (→ 14th place)

Men's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay

• Frank Drost, Patrick Dybiona, Hans Kroes, and Ron Dekker

• Heat — 3:25.26 (→ did not advance, 11th place)

Men's 4 × 100 m Medley Relay

• Hans Kroes, Ron Dekker, Frank Drost, and Patrick Dybiona

• Heat — 3:45.65
• Final — 3:46.55 (→ 7th place)

Women's 50m Freestyle

• Karin Brienesse

• Heat — 26.54
• B-Final — 26.66 (→ 15th place)

• Diana van der Plaats

• Heat — 26.49
• B-Final — 26.80 (→ 16th place)

Women's 100m Freestyle

• Karin Brienesse

• Heat — 56.29
• Final — 56.15 (→ 6th place)

• Conny van Bentum

• Heat — 56.50
• Final — 56.54 (→ 8th place)

Women's 200m Freestyle

• Diana van der Plaats

• Heat — 2:03.02 (→ did not advance, 17th place)

• Karin Brienesse

• Heat — 2:04.36 (→ did not advance, 22nd place)

Women's 100m Backstroke

• Jolanda de Rover

• Heat — 1:04.39
• B-Final — 1:04.11 (→ 14th place)

Women's 200m Backstroke

• Jolanda de Rover

• Heat — 2:16.58
• Final — 2:15.17 (→ 7th place)

Women's 100m Breaststroke

• Linda Moes

• Heat — 1:11.84 (→ did not advance, 17th place)

Women's 200m Breaststroke

• Linda Moes

• Heat — 2:31.98
• B-Final — 2:30.83 (→ 11th place)

Women's 100m Butterfly

• Conny van Bentum

• Heat — 1:00.94
• Final — 1:00.62 (→ 6th place)

Women's 200m Butterfly

• Conny van Bentum

• Heat — 2:12.41
• Final — 2:13.17 (→ 8th place)

Women's 200m Individual Medley

• Marianne Muis

• Heat — 2:16.60
• Final — 2:16.40 (→ 5th place)

• Mildred Muis

• Heat — 2:19.46
• B-Final — 2:17.73 (→ 9th place)

Women's 400m Individual Medley

• Marianne Muis

• Heat — 4:56.31 (→ did not advance, 20th place)

• Mildred Muis

• Heat — 4:56.89 (→ did not advance, 21st place)

Women's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay

• Conny van Bentum, Marianne Muis, Mildred Muis, and Diana van der Plaats

• Heat — 3:44.12

• Marianne Muis, Mildred Muis, Conny van Bentum, and Karin Brienesse

• Final — 3:43.39 (→ Silver Medal)

Women's 4 × 100 m Medley Relay

• Jolanda de Rover, Linda Moes, Conny van Bentum, and Karin Brienesse

• Heat — 4:11.82
• Final — 4:12.19 (→ 5th place)

Men's Singles Competition

• Michiel Schapers

• First round — Defeated Andrei Chesnokov (Soviet Union) 6-3, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2
• Second round — Defeated Tony Mmoh (Nigeria) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
• Third round — Defeated Sergio Casal (Spain) 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
• Quarter Finals — Lost to Miloslav Mečíř (Czechoslovakia) 6-3, 6-7, 2-6, 4-6

• Annemiek van den Boogaart-Dagelet (bowling)