The Dutch king and queen hosted an event for the Netherlands’ Olympic medal winners on Tuesday, which included official honours for those who had not been recognised before.

The winners posed on the steps of the Huis ten Bosch with Willem-Alexander and Máxima, before attending a private function indoors.

Earlier prime minister Dick Schoof addressed the medal winners, telling them they had reached the top of mount Olympus. “You made the Netherlands feel like a club,” he said. “Paris was Oranje.”

There was no mention of concerns held by senior sports officials about new government plans that might impact on spending on sport. They have told the government it needs to increase the sports budget to keep up the momentum.

Holiday

Sifan Hassan told reporters at the meeting she planned to go on holiday. “My whole focus was on Paris and I’ve not made any other plans. I’m going to take it easy and we will see,” the marathon gold medalist said.

Basketball player Worthy de Jong, who gave the Netherlands gold in the 3-3 in the dying seconds of the game, said the impact of the sport had been very special. “I’ve had so many messages from people who did not know my sport but now love it,” he said.

In total, the Netherlands won a record 34 medals at the Olympics, with rowing, sailing, cycling and athletics dominating. The Dutch also won the hockey double.