Hockey's Transformers: Jeroen Hertzberger
He made his mark on the field, and now he’s shaping hockey’s future online.
Three-time Olympian and all-time top scorer in the Euro Hockey League, Jeroen Hertzberger has spent more than two decades at the top of the sport. But beyond his achievements on the field, he is now a trailblazer off it – transforming how hockey is taught, shared, and accessed through his YouTube channel, HertzbergerTV. Recently retired from club hockey after 22 seasons with HC Rotterdam, his mission to educate and inspire the next generation is just hitting its stride.
How did you first get into hockey?
I grew up in a hockey family, and both my parents played, but we lived abroad when I was young, including in Budapest, Hungary, where hockey isn’t very common. Another Dutch family lived nearby though, and we started a tradition; every Saturday morning we’d draw a hockey field with chalk on a concrete football pitch and play. That was my first experience of the game. A strange surface, but it sparked something in me.
When did you realize you wanted to pursue hockey seriously?
Until I was 16, I was torn between football and hockey. I actually loved football more early on, but around age 16, my parents encouraged me to choose, and hockey had this amazing atmosphere. I loved the training, the people, the team spirit. I decided to focus 100% and see how far I could take it, and that was when I set my sights on the Olympics.
What have been the highlights of your career?
Winning the European Championship twice stands out, especially the second one, in Amsterdam right after COVID. The crowd, the energy – it was incredible. Becoming Dutch champion with Rotterdam in 2013, the first time in the club’s history, is another huge one. Playing in three Olympics was incredible, as it’s the pinnacle of the sport, but I never won a medal. I’ve said before, the medal doesn’t make the man, but losing bronze-medal matches stays with you.
You’ve mentioned approaching goal scoring like a science. What do you mean by that?
I analyzed it deeply, wanting to understand where to be, how to move, how to manipulate defenders, to create the best odds of scoring or getting an assist. It helped me develop my own style, which was different and unorthodox, but effective.
Which players influenced you?
Mark Knowles from Australia had a big impact. Not just how he played, but his mindset. Same with Phil Burrows from New Zealand, who showed me how to bring energy to a team and keep going. Playing alongside Teun de Nooijer in the Dutch team was also huge. He wasn’t very vocal, but he’s a cool guy and he always let his stick do the talking, and it was an honor to share the field with him.
How has the game changed since you started?
It’s become so much more physical. When I played in my first Olympics (Beijing 2008), it was a more technical, passing game, but by my last Olympics (Tokyo 2020), it was a completely different game, you couldn’t compare them. Over the years, especially during Australia’s dominant run between 2010 and 2014, it shifted toward speed, endurance, and strength. The training demands are massive now. I always enjoyed that side of it, but I also think we sometimes lose a bit of the technical and mental side in that evolution.
You’ve been with HC Rotterdam your whole club career. That’s rare.
Yes, I joined the first team at 16, and now I’m 39. So 22 seasons with one club, which is pretty special. May 10 was my final match, so it’s emotional, of course. I’ve spent my whole adult life here, but I also feel ready. I’m excited to support the club in a new way and watch my kids grow up around the game.
You’re known now not just as a player, but as a creator. How did your YouTube journey begin?
It started about five years ago. I posted simple drill videos to help young players. I realized there’s so much hockey knowledge locked up in elite environments, and that felt like a missed opportunity. When COVID hit, I thought, "Now’s the time." I began uploading consistently, and it just took off. Now HertzbergerTV is the biggest hockey channel in the world.
“That’s exactly why I started it. To make the game more accessible, to share what I’ve learned.”
What kind of content do you post?
Everything from backhand shooting, to shave tackles, to fake passes and elimination skills. I keep it very practical and focused on skill development. Coaches and players can easily adapt the drills. It’s all about helping people improve, wherever they are.
And it’s clearly resonating. What kind of reach are you seeing?
It’s been amazing. We’ve got viewers from all over – India is huge, but also the UK, South Africa, Australia, the US, Canada, and of course the Netherlands. Forty-six of the videos have over 50,000 views. The top three are ‘Hockey Skills’ with over 608,000 views, ‘Trickshots’ at 379,000, and ‘Elimination Skills’ with 361,000. It’s amazing to see that reach. It reminds me how many people love the sport but may not have access to top-level coaching or structure.
What kind of feedback do you get from the channel?
There are lots of comments from people, saying how much they’ve improved since watching these videos, which is great. Coaches tell me they use the content with their teams. That’s exactly why I started it. To make the game more accessible, to share what I’ve learned.
You also launched online courses recently. What's the plan there?
The free content has always been important to me, but the online courses are a newer step; more in-depth, structured learning for serious players. I’m exploring where that might go. Ultimately, I’m thinking about how I want to spend my time, what brings value, to others and to my own life, and how to balance passion and impact.
After retiring from playing, do you think you’ll coach?
Maybe. I’m exploring different options. Coaching is interesting to me, but I also want to enjoy some freedom. High-performance sport is very demanding. It takes up your weekends, holidays, everything. So I’ll take a bit of space, enjoy time with family, and try a few things out. We’ll see what sticks.
What’s next for Dutch hockey after Paris?
I think the Dutch men are building something strong again. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in another World Cup semi-final, especially with the next one at home. The women are very much still dominant. Their consistency is amazing, and their skill level just keeps rising. It’s hard to maintain dominance long-term, but both teams are in great shape culturally.