Let’s get to know one another…

Jan: bob pasley said that. and you’ve been doing a great job here,i really enjoy every posts. good to be together with all you oranje fans (especially goose, tju,caleb,stephan,igor,lerkot – even if you don’t like and appreciate clarence seedorf -,tju, etc.)and discuss about football every day.

Posted from  Hungary

I’m Bruce. 24 years old. I was born in Canada, and currently live in South Korea with my (also Dutch-Canadian) wife. My mothers family is from Delft while my fathers side is from Groningen and Steinwijk. My grandfather actually played professionally back in the day in Holland. My wifes parents are from Zeeland.

I’m actually writing this in Berlin and am on my way to Holland to watch Oranje win another Euro cup. In less than 2 days I’ll be in Groningen.

My favourite team is PSV Eindhoven. But, like many others, support and watch any other team with Dutch players, particularly Arsenal Liverpool and Real Madrid. I also love FC Groningen, and would prefer Feyenoord over Ajax any day, although I wouldn’t mind it at all if Ajax picked it up a little bit to make the League both more exciting and competitive.

Oranje til I die!

I am 24 years old. My grandparents immigrated to Canada in 1950 from The Netherlands, my parents understand the language, but sadly I do not. My wife’s father is from Groningen and she has visited the motherland a few times, so i refer to her for all things dutch. We have 2 children, a boy and a girl. While I love soccer myself, I have never been great at is. My son has grown up with a ball at his feet or in his hands, and is his favorite toy, so who knows with him!I like to refer to myself as dutch, despite not really being dutch at all other than the heritage. My dream is to go there one day!
The Canadians are hopeless at football, so I have always cheered for Holland since I started watching the beautiful game. Loved watching Dennis Bergkamp work is magic and Marc Overmars rip down the wings, so they became my favorite players, and that is how I fell in love with my club team, Arsenal! My current favorite players are now Robin Van Persie and Fabregas, and am really hoping Nacer Barazite can break the 1st team soon and be a huge factor.
I have just found this blog which has been a godsend as it has been very tough to find english website to follow Holland. If anyone can let me know of others, as well as for the Eredievse, it would be muchly appreciated!
Hup Holland Hup!!

Posted from  Canada

Miguel, 22, from Mexico. I live in the Yucatan Peninsula a very beautiful place, we have Cancun very near and Chichen Itza. I am still in college studying business administration. My dream is to go to a WC or EC and watch Holland play haha.

I’ve been an Oranje fan since I was 8 years old, I became an Oranje fan when Holland played vs Brazil in the quarter finals of the 1994 World Cup in the US, it might be strange for some because Holland lost that game but they showed great character and great football in that match. Next year my love for Holland proved to be right as Ajax showed the world what football is all about and 3 years later I saw Holland in the 1998 WC which was a joy to watch. Since I am 8 I’ve always followed Holland’s players and every week I read how they are doing, my friends here in Mexico say I’m crazy haha.

It has been a real plasure being part of this magnificent blog and I hope it keeps working forever, I enjoy reading your posts Jan and I enjoy reading everyone’s comments.

Hi everyone my name is Mike..born and raised in New York lived in Rome for a summer. I am actually of Italian heritage 100% and a die hard azzuri fan, was checking up on this blog since we play you guys monday. I’m 23 and my favoriate moments in football were the 94 world cup (Baggio carrying us to the finals), 2000 Euro’s (sorry but the Holland game was great for me, final left my heartbroken though) and of course 06′ world cup. Good luck to you guys during the Euro’s I hope we both go thu to the next round! you all see me look good people looking forward to visiting Holland, best of luck from the Azzuri fans (well some of us)-

Hey.. Matt, 18 and I freakin love Oranje.

I was born and live in Melbourne… My father in Papendrecht.
My first torney was WC98.

I love Ajax, Arsenal, AC Milan, Juvey, but most of all za mighty Netherlands.

I like Cristiano Ronaldo alot, but, as Jan said, not when he’s playing Holland.

My favorite players are Kaka, All the Dutch players, Cristiano, Zltan Ibrahimovic (IN that order…)

Ive been waiting for Euro 2008 for two years AND ITS FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hup Holland

Jan, ya gotta try some slimfast:), but then I should talk. My name is Tjeerd, after my grandfather, (canadianized to “Ted”), live in Richmond Hill Ontario Canada.
Self employed in the lawn care industry, my mother grew up near Feyenoord Stadium, was always told about how great the team was as a child.
Intrests include, politics, feyenoord soccer, southern gospel music, southern smoked BBQ (the true BBQ, sorry ausies)

@clockworkorange..I was also at the game in 1994, at varsity arena, it was 3-0 Holland over Canada. More Dutch fans then Canadian fans, a problem we have here in Canada. Every time the Canadian National team plays in Toronto, a city of immigrants, more supporters show up for the opposing country, withe the exception of the United States.

Stephen, 35, married with four children. Born and raised in California, now living in Texas. Work in the insurance industry. I was never much of a futbal follower until 1998. Watching the world cup in 1998, I fell in love with that Orange team from Holland. Wow, could they play! They were the most exciting team to watch. Maybe it was a natural feeling because my ancestry on my fathers side immigrated from Holland to America in the late 17th century. My favorite players – Davids, Cocu, Bergkamp, the deBoer bros. I also root for Denmark(from my mothers side) and the USA(hey, I’ve got to root for the home team), but not nearly as much or with greater passion than Oranje. I read this blog religiously. It inspired me to inspire my wife to purchase a DVD set of all Oranje’s games in the 1974 WC for my birthday.(I had to know who these guys were) btw – @goose, I still haven’t finished the final game. I’m about halfway thru the first half. I’ve been stuck there for a good year. I’m too scared to continue….hahaha. I’m very excited to get EC going and follow along with all of you.

Forgot to add this link, I told you I was a soccer coach. This is one of my favorite YouTube clips, and no, the guy on the right is not me:-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPWNooQIfwU

Enjoy!!

Posted from  United States

Hey All!!

Glad to see we’re connecting before the EC..
Im Ramy, 24 years old, half dutch from my mother’s side..
Introduced seriously to football when I was 10 years old, at the wc 94.. I was living in dallas at the time and got to see quite a few matches, including the Holland/Brazil game.. Since then Ive been a die-hard dutch fan. And I think I saw every Oranje International game since then, so it’s that intense!!

i share Goose’s sentiments about following the dutch players to whatever teams they go to.. haha i remember making a joke about it once here on this blog saying im like an Oranje groupie following the players wherever the end up going.. A few years back, I couldnt stand the sight of Real Madrid, especially during the Figo era… now they’re my favorite team in europe.. And the opposite happened with Man utd, after Ruud left the club..
This last season’s loyalties were Liverpool, Arsenal in England.. and Wigan..
Real Madrid in Spain, AC Milan in Italy, Nobody in France and HSV in Germany. In Holland I cheer for anybody who wins mainly, and have no preference.. However, I do have a tendency to like PSV a bit less than the rest.

Im looking forward to see Sneijder shine this EC.. He plays my preferable role when I myself play football with my mates, and am enjoying every bit of his development.. Im actually counting more on him than on VPersie to lead our Orange to victory. He’s smart and clever, a leader on the pitch, has vision and great skill, and is probably the deadliest Right-side free kick taker available today…
But all in all im not so positive about our chances.. Sometimes they play great, sometimes theyre terrible, and this inconsistency will only be negative when facing Big Match performers like Italy and France.
In all case, I wish you all good luck, and an amazing time cheering, smiling, screaming, betting, nail-eating, and crying.. I know I will.

Posted from  Canada

Just call me hawe, I’m Indonesian and I’m in love with Oranje since I was eight years old – when my grandfather took me watching Gullit & co. win Euro’88 in television. By this time, I only support Oranje, which means I don’t have any favourite clubs. I used to support AC Milan when they had the trio back then, but when Patrick Kluivert’s goal win Ajax Champions League trophy, I turned my heart. I used to love the Arsenal way of play too: I’m a big fans of Marc Overmars – fastest winger on the world! I love how Dennis Bergkamp plays – with his masterpiece goal versus Argentina at France’98. But when Mr.Thierry starting to play solo, I turned my heart again and hate the man ever since…

And of course, I’m waiting for the time Oranje could win a major tournament again, because I was still a kid to remember anything about becoming a champion!

Posted from  Indonesia

Glad to see some ne names in our blog
Well sorry i am too late
My name is Tiju Thomas a diehard fan of orange from india (A country polluted with a useless stupid game(pitch deciding)fools game)
27 year ol single(do not have any plan to marry)
Working as Assistant Medical records in a corporate hopital.
Till 2004 my house never had television.coz of tat most of the time i went to my friends home and watched oranges game from there.
Born in a village called Kumbanad,keral state(also known as god on country)in india.
I started watching soccer throgh TV since 1994 WC.I started watching oranges match since 1998 WC( ohh wat a team).
very sad abt condition of india most of peoples are ignorant abt foot ball and do not have any anger to know abt football.
I admire JC very much(coz he came through fire like me from a poor family)
Ilike Bergcamp,Kluivert,Franc Deboer,davids of last generation.
and i like Vanpersie ,roban,heitinga,drenthe,castelen of current crop.
i like MANU,BARCA,JUVE,Arsenal and coz of ruud,roban drenthe i like realmadrid now.
I have a wild dream in my mind which i cannt reveal throgh this blog.
I always enjoyed this blog esp company with (Goose-The spelling teacher,Jan,Ferenc,Stephen,Ramy,sandesh,Rob,bob,Rosado etc)
I never played foot ball in professiobnal leavel.
i know i am very limited skilled footballer like KUYT
But i want to to sme thing for football and i belive i am very typical in my thoughts hope i can be coach like JC(ha haha)
Hup holland hup
Play with ur heart and brain with courage and confidence nobody going take away the euro from us.
u know wat is the condition in india if u r asking abt vanpersie they reply with another question to u like this “who is van persie?”

Beste, my name is Rocky Mapaliey (Warouw is my mom’s family name). I’m 27 years old, Indonesian, born & lived in Jakarta (capital city of Indonesia). My parents is from Minahasa ,North Sulawesi (if you know Bunaken). More about me you can see at my facebook.

I’m a dutch lovers. First time i know football was our great trio Gullit, Van Basten & Rijkaard. That’s why i love AC Milan. I’ve been watching football regularly AC Milan 93-94. First time i saw Oranje match & World Cup: Holland Vs Saudi Arabia. First Oranje goal: Wim “canon ball” Jonk from 35m in Washington. Player impress me in WC’94 Dennis “the iceman” Bergkamp, Marc “road runner” Overmars & Wim “canon ball” Jonk. I was very sad because of Branco’s goal at Dallas.

Grateful be a witness of the golden generation & the untouchable AJAX ‘95 (with they star: Jari Litmanen, De Boer brothers, Danny Blind , Overmars & Van Der Sar) & the rising star Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf & Edgar Davids. With Meneer Van Gaal tactic. Just 3 foreigner: Litmanen, Finidi, & Kanu. They just unlucky in CL Final’96 because the Final was played in Italy.

The best ever Dutch team i saw is in WC’98 (Van Der Sar, Reiziger, Stam, F. De Boer, Numan, Jonk, Davids, R.De Boer, Overmars, Bergkamp & Kluivert) 4-4-2 formation. Memorable match in Marseille againts Argentina 2-1. Thanx to Meneer Hiddink. We loose penalty in ‘98 & 2000 because our best penalty takers: (F.De Boer, Kluivert, R.De Boer, Cocu & Overmars) wasn’t get a chance to take the penalty at their club because of Rivaldo, Figo, Guardiola & Enrique so they loose they touch in penalty. Also Frank De Boer touch as a free kick taker. Last best Oranje performance i saw is in euro’04 playoff aginst Scotland 6-0. After that i never see the great of Oranje. I hope i can see in euro’08.

My all time favorite player: Dennis Bergkamp. I also like Marc Overmars & Ronald De Boer.
Current Favorite Player: Ruud Van Nistelrooy & Wesley Sneijder.
Favorite Club: Ajax, AC Milan, Real Madrid , Arsenal (because of the dynamic duo ,now Robin Van Persie)

Total Football: Cruyff era, Van Basten era, Bergkamp era, now Van Nistelrooy era.

Glad to know all of you guys, like i’ve got a new family from all over the world because of Oranje despite we have different opinion about the starting eleven & who should play Jan, you did a great job! Guys let us pray for Oranje win the euro’08 title. Cheers

The names Laurence, live in London currently studying in Cardiff uni, but finished my degree yesterday woooohhhaaayyy! Mothers dutch have a great connection with my dutch relatives so have always supported them! Come on Hollllaaannnnndddd!!!

Posted from  United Kingdom

I’m Brian, 32 and I’m not even Dutch. Fell in love with the Oranje at Euro 88 – after they beat us Irish (very luckily too, I might add) with that dodgy goal, I followed Holland for the remainder of the tournament, and was hooked. Wasn’t a bad generation of Dutch footballers to be entranced by now, was it?

I’m a QPR fan, which has acted as good training for being disappointed by Oranje over the years.

@Jan – I loved watching those ‘74 games. What was really amazing to me was the real interchangability of the players. All those guys seemed to be all over the place. Cruyff was in the back about 1/3 of the time it seemed, directing, pointing. It was actually quite unbeleivable. You never see that today.

Posted from  United States

@stephen – 1974 and 1978 was my favorite Oranje years. Even more so than 88. If there ever was such a thing as poetry in motion, you are watching it right there. Unbelieveable. Doubt it will ever be seen again. Today’s game does not allow it.

Posted from  United States

Hey there,
I’m Jan (a very boring Dutch name), I’m 21 years old, half-Dutch half-Italian, born in French-speaking Switzerland. I currently live in Rome after graduating from the University of Geneva in Archaeology and Ancient History.
I’ve just spent a gap year studying german, guitar, writing for a magazine, working at a bookshop, as a football coach and as a receptionist all in Rome.

I support AFC Ajax, Cagliari Calcio, Newcastle United, FC Sion, Deportivo la Coruna, Wolfsburg, Celtic Glasgow as club teams. Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Finland, Uruguay and South Africa as national teams.
I dislike Brazil, Portugal, Italy, AS Roma, Manchester United, Valencia and AC Milan.
My favourite players (a bunch of them) are Henry, van der Vaart, Alexander Frei, Arni Gautur Arason, Litmanen, Tore Andre Flo, Shovkovskyi etc.

I’m a goalkeeper and have had played for high school and university, I was on the verge of turning semi-pro two years ago but didn’t have enough time to dedicate to sports.
My other favourite sports are table tennis, hiking, trekking, hydrospeed, cycling, swimming, mountain-climbing, beachvolley, beachsoccer, skiing (with blades) and rugby.

The first football I ever watched was at the World Cup 98 in France and I still recall insulting Brazil after the penalty shoot-out in the semifinal against NL.

Anyways, I’m moving to NL next year for University (Leiden) and I’m working on publishing some fantasy.

That’s it for now,
and my secret fantasy is a Switzerland – NL final :p

Posted from  Italy

I’m Joel, 34,and have a Pake en Beppe. My vrouw and I currently reside in Oakville. To say I love Oranje is an understatement! Truly, we are the best team never to have won a wereld cup – lest we forget ‘74, ‘78 and ‘98. Jan, keep up the great work you do!

Hup Holland Hup! Oranje boven!!

Posted from  Canada

Jan, your recent blog efforts have been tremendous! Also, your idea of sharing identities among the bloggers is both timely and interesting. My impressions of the collective group include amazement at the diversity of us, the multiple origins, the high number of us who have traveled extensively and the number of bloggers who have made significant life moves at comparatively young ages. An interesting and enjoyable group with whom to be associated.

One other observation, for me, is that I am old enough to be the father of most of the bloggers, and maybe in some cases even a grandfather. I am married, the father of one son, age 23, who loves the Netherlands and the Orange as much as we all do. My ancestors, all Dutch, came to North America in the mid-1600s as part of the New Netherland experience. Some stayed in New Amsterdam, now New York City, while others sailed up the Hudson River to Fort Orange, now Albany. For several generations my direct forebears were successful farmers in the Mohawk River valley of upstate New York. Then, my grandfather left the land to become a businessman, while my father was a career educator. As for me, I first followed my Dad into public education, then shifted and, for the past 33 years have been an attorney in a community only 15 miles away from where my earliest forebears settled in 1672.

My connection to the Netherlands and Dutch football started in the late 1960s, when I traveled all over Europe and the British Isles for several weeks. I found the Dutch to be the friendliest of people,and I really liked the country. When I came home, I became interested in my family history for the first time, and then everything Dutch, including football. I watched both the 1974 and 1978 World Cup live in Madison Square Garden in NYC, and loved every minute of the experience. I played American football, basketball, baseball and ran track as a school athlete, with minimal exposure to soccer (football). Once connected to the Orange, I then learned whatever I could about the sport, even though not many Americans cared about the sport and there were no European games broadcast on tv . When my son came along, and grew up with youth soccer here in suburban USA, I became a dedicated coach of the sport and even took an intense 4-day course with the KNVB in Massachusetts. It was the best seminar on any subject I have ever experienced, and the Dutch coaches providing the program were fantastic. One of my proudest wall plaques in my office is the certificate I received at the conclusion of that program, which was then followed by a similar program the following year offered by Manchester United in NYC and taught by a Dutchman names Vandermuelen (I think), who continues with Man U.

One of the best books I have ever read is “Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football”,written by Englishman David Winner. I read everything I can get my hands on regarding Dutch football, watch all of the KNVB and AJAX instructional DVDs and continue to love the country, its people and its football.

This blog is terrific and I am pleased you all “let me in” as the old timer of the group. I can tell you that enthusiasm for our Orange only grows with age, and I can not wait for next Monday and the Italy match. Thanks again, Jan, and as always–HUP HOLLAND!

Posted from  United States

Hey Jan et al

This is a great blog….now live in Singapore, born in Indonesia but still Dutch as well as Australian, run a couple of bars and of course have a big oranje following here too. Show it on the big screen all the time.

Australia is also in love with Dutch Football especially “Aussie Gus”

i think it is important that we all agree to disagree at times which is so “gezellig” in Holland when I “argue” with my cousins about the line ups and the Feyenoord/Ajax/PSV competition.

I am disappointe that we cant see the WC2010 qualifier Oz v Iraq as they are really my second team and I remember screaming wild when Aloisi’s penalty went in. It is still considered the most important sporting moment in ALL of Australia’s great moments in ALL sports.

Anyway, lets enjoy the tournament and the lineups. Am not really worried about the line up we have so many good players even Engelaar looks good.
Like most other Expats here I follow most teams which have Dutch players.
Interesting that Holland has MORE Real Madrid players then Spain.

Stay in Touch !!

Carlos

Posted from  Singapore