The 29-year-old Dutch star, who has three Olympic gold medals in his collection, finished in a time of 6 min 14.99 sec at the Thialf Ice Arena to provide a winner from The Netherlands on day two of competition.

His time was enough to beat second placed compatriot Jorrit Bergsma, who finished 1.42 sec behind, while Bart Swings of Belgium was 5.81 adrift of the eventual winner in his third-placed effort.

Elsewhere, American rivals Brittany Bowe and Heather Richardson-Bergsma renewed their rivalry in the women's 1000m with the former taking the plaudits this time around.

The pair have exchanged victories and world records during this season's World Cup with Bowe's 1:14.69 enough for success on the Dutch track.

Richardson-Bergsma was 0.84 adrift of her compatriot, while there was a spot on the podium for home favourite Marrit Leenstra who came in 1.28 behind Bowe.

In the men's 1000m, Russia's Pavel Kulizhnikov claimed a second win of the season over the distance after clocking 1:08.16.

His team-mate Denis Yuskov was his closest rival after finishing 0.43 adrift, while there was another Dutch podium place thanks to Kjeld Nuis who finished 0.45 shy of Kulizhnikov.

In the final event of the day, the women's team pursuit title went to Japan, ahead of The Netherlands and Poland.

The action will conclude in Heerenveen tomorrow. 

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