Two years after he left Wouda moved back to the Netherlands, where trainer-coach Jacco Verhaeren brought him back to the top. Wouda got his second Olympic selection when he qualified for the 1996 Summer Olympics. There he finished in 4th place in the 200 m individual medley, 5th place in the 400 m individual medley, and 7th place in 4×200 m freestyle. At the 1997 European Aquatics Championships he became European champion in the 200 m and 400 m individual medley and won a silver medal in the 4×200 m freestyle together with Pieter van den Hoogenband, Mark van der Zijden and Martijn Zuijdweg.