Comments on: The KNVB speaks! Dutch….

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:41:27 +0000

Hello again! This blog was most interesting, considering the variety of responses. It is now and has been my opinion that the KNVB response as reported by Jan is representative of their habitual pattern of “missing the point.” As many have stated, this blog offered and presented so splendidly by Jan does provide excellent information for those of us who love Dutch football. What the KNVB misses is that the percentage of fans who follow the Dutch and speak/read Dutch is comparatively small.I would guess that a vast majority of Nederland football followers on a worldwide basis can not read/appreciate the information offered on the KNVB site. Football is part of human entertainment, intended to enhance the quality of life for those choosing such activity. Understandable and readable information about the entertainment (in this case, Dutch football) is part of the experience. Excluding a huge percentage of its fans makes no sense, when considering the purpose of the activity. In addition, the irony is that the Dutch people and culture seem to universally respect and understand English. I was amazed last year when visiting the Netherlands for the first time in several years how many signs and public items of information were in English–everywhere! In summary, the talent for the language is available, the interest in the sport is immense, but what is not there is the willingness/competence/leadership of the KNVB to “just do it!” For the gifted Dutch, this would be an easy problem to solve.

By: tiju

tiju — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 03:33:05 +0000

dont finn dont even think abt it.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:45:28 +0000

Very true about the amount of NL fans in Asia. The team is worshipped here in Korea as well. Ever since Hiddink took S Korea to the semifinals he became a god here and immortalized the Netherlands as footballing legends.

KNVBs decision is really baffling, from a fan’s perspective and as a business perspective. They could be making a lot of money if they could get some traffic through their site, through merchandise and advertising…. meh… oh well…

Don’t think I would actually check it that often even if it was in English.

By: Igor

Igor — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:39:36 +0000

My first reaction was like goose, caleb, MR and others: who cares about the KNVB site when i can check this blog whenever i want for the latest news on dutch soccer and trade opinions with knowledgeable fans from around the world…

BUT then i realized that Jan is likely to retire before the KNVB get their act together and then i’ll be left without a good source for news on Oranje.

By: Caleb

Caleb — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:56:52 +0000

@Alex – you may have a point there. I know that when I was playing football in Japan (just for fun, not professionally of course ), I certainly saw lots of Japanese guys wearing the Oranje jersey. I think it would only apply to the national team though, not the Eredivisie.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:06:21 +0000

I think there is an enourmous market for dutch football in especially China and Japan, why not start a Chinese/Japanese eredivisie live

By: Carlos

Carlos — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:29:17 +0000

Unfortunately as Jan highlighted the KNVB does not see the intangible benefits here and as so many of you have said Holland is such a popular team, I have yet to come across anyone in my travels in Asia who hasn’t got Holland on their list as either favourite or second favourite team (often after Brazil) especially if their country is NOT participating in the World Cup. As I said can’t see the Forest for the Trees.
Another intangible is the millions of hits the site will get and therefore increase it’s commercial viability. *sigh, its hard to argue with ignorance.

By: T

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:47:10 +0000

I was born in Holland and have supporting the Oranje all my life, yet I cannot read it. I’m disappointed that I cannot read the site.

By: Michel-Olivier

Michel-Olivier — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:58:17 +0000

i agree with carlos
guys use google “Translate a web page” pick dutch to english.

http://74.125.93.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http://www.knvb.nl/&usg=ALkJrhhqbAccjyd3gCzX0ZmfIwEKn5IRJg

By: ghost of steve finnan

ghost of steve finnan — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:38:03 +0000

Damn, Jan. You made my point while I was typing!

And I thought I had an original thought for a second.