Comments on: There is no such thing as Oranje Hooligans

By: Ruud

Ruud — Sat, 24 May 2008 18:03:31 +0000

It’s true no Hooligans at the National team, however in the competition there is a big reputation. Feyenoord for an example are probably one of the worst in Europe and the World, recently kicked out of UEFA cup for that. Cheers, Ruud

By: goose

goose — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:05:03 +0000

@finnster; hahahaha// i knew you were gonna make a comment on the blonde lady!! (and i agree, thats the Holland I love)

… guess we should be happy the germans didnt take our blondes!! a bike can be replaced

By: Finnster01

Finnster01 — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:58:18 +0000

See the blonde on the bike? Now, that is what I am talking about!!! Absolute classic Holland!!!

@Jan & Goose, no wonder you want your bikes back:-)

By: Finnster01

Finnster01 — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:52:19 +0000

Never ever had a problem with Dutch fans, that includes club level. Granted, the logistics at the moment makes Dutch football and Oranje a bit of a challenge for me, but back in the day (of hooligans) before I moved to the States, I saw many Ajax and also Oranje games.

It was no different than going to a game in England (where I was living at the time). Good atmosphere, nice bit of banter amongst fans, and if you just used common sense coming and going to the stadium nothing would ever happen to you.

I’ve had many peaceful beers with fellow Dutch football fans (including Feyenoord) whilst wearing my old beat up Johan Neeskens Ajax shirt from 1972 (still have it!!!).

Dutch fans, club and Oranje level, are by and large great!! There is a small minority of trouble makers, but they are not football fans. They just want trouble. Every country has those, even Norway!!

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:43:54 +0000

Lerkot, interesting question.

Our amateur competition is split into Saturday and Sunday competitions. The Saturday version was developed – I think – to allow church abiding youngsters (lots of them in the country-side) to play as well. Nowadays is not that important anymore, but the division still exists. Then there’s classed within the Saturday and Sunday Hoofdklasses as well. Within these different hoofdklasses there are several big name amateur clubs who have been at the top for decades.

I’ll email you one on one, ok? So you can maybe elaborate a little bit more on this challenge without the whole world reading over our shoulders .

I mean, I could easily answer you question specifically here, but maybe I can be of more help if you could share a bit more

By: Lerkot

Lerkot — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:01:21 +0000

Jan. I need help. Could you find an Hoofdklasse team of the year? Im trying to sign a Dutch player to Sweden but its not the easiest of tasks.

By: HUP

HUP — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:12:29 +0000

The fans are a big reason why I become a dutch supporter when I was young. I think the italians and portuguese can learn from us on how to be a proper football fan.

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:07:33 +0000

What most people abroad don’t know or realize…or maybe even frown upon is the impact WWII had and still has in Holland (can’t speak for Brits, French, Belgium people). Our generation grew up with the images of the war but more so the stories of our parents and grandparents.

Now, I know I don’t need to inform this blog on the atrocities committed, and I also don’t have to explain that “yes, it was 50+ years ago and you can’t hold all current Germans responsible”… All true.

But it is still under our skin, apparently. And every time Holland plays Germany, it comes up. Not like an organized thing, it just happens.

And most of the time not in an overly aggressive way, but with a lot of black humour. Singing “We want our bikes back” (reference to the fact that the Germans stole the Dutch people’s bikes) and those Air raid acts.

I personally, when I let my heart and ratio speak, don’t like the war references and all, but I can’t help myself when I’m in a German stadium, right before Germany – Oranje and I hear the Dutch supporters sing: we want our bikes back, I can’t help smiling….

By: goose

goose — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:49:00 +0000

@Jan; true, most of my Den Haag friends never go to an Oranje game..but still some ‘real’football fans do…thats the nice thing about fc Den Haag…no sponsors at all!! haha
i just cant stand people for whom it all just a laugh…for me its very serious and i like to behave that way
remember; during the EC88 there was a lot of rioting between the germans, the english and us…. good times!! after our victory in 88 it all changed

@Caleb; its a reference to WOII.. the fans are doing a german bomb raid (like the germans did on Rotterdam in 1940) on a german square during WC06, the germans were not amused, haha.. so i was

By: Caleb

Caleb — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:44:25 +0000

I think most people around the world like the outrageous costumes and such from the the dutch fans. They have a pretty good reputation as good, fun loving supporters from what I’ve seen.

Goose – What is the significance of the video? Is that an allusion to WWII or a football cheer? In Canada I don’t know much about WC or EC fans..