Dames op stelten

Although big screens showing World Cup matches have been banned in most public places, there are still plenty of places to go to watch and experience the sporting and (pop-)cultural spectacle that is the Dutch World Cup.
Closest to home is TU Delft’s Sports Centre (SC), where all World Cup matches are being shown live on the SC Café’s big screen. ‘Nothing beats watching a game with a good crowd’, the SC’s promo proclaims, while also urging the TU’s students and staff to ‘Dress to impress and support your favourite team!’ The SC Café offers catering specials during the games; special themes based around the countries playing that day; a ‘7 beers for the price of 6’ deal; and extended opening times (also on weekends).

Companies and Dutch celebrities surely aren’t missing the chance to profit on the back of the World Cup, but you’ll need to head off-campus to taste the truly wild (and weird) Dutch World Cup experience. Philips Stadium in Eindhoven is hosting a football concert by Guus Meeuwis, a popular singer-songwriter of sentimental ballads. First the Holland v. Japan match will be shown on a big screen inside the stadium, then Meeuwis will take the stage to serenade a sea of orange-clad faithful. A truly echt Nederlandse happening.
On June 19 (Holland v. Japan) and June 24 (Holland v. Cameroon), there will be big football-themed parties called ‘Holland Heineken Plein’ in Den Bosch (Brabanthallen), featuring live match broadcasts and performances by Dutch pop idols like Jeroen van der Boom, Monique Smit, Peter Beense and René Schuurmans, with dj Perry Stuiver providing the beats on the square all day and night.

Rotterdam is also getting in on the World Cup action, hosting an ‘Experts van Oranje’ musical football party at De Kuip on June 19/24, with live match broadcasts inside the stadium and performances by Dutch pop stars, including Wesley, Gordon, Johnny Romein, Lee Towers, Thomas Berge, Het Feestteam, Jan Smit, Jannes and Jeroen van der Boom.
And Coca Cola of course isn’t letting Heineken monopolise the Dutch World Cup: fans can head to Amsterdam Arena on June 19 (starting at 11:00 a.m.) for the ‘Coca Cola Fifa World Cup Celebration’, where there will be live football and African beats by Waylon, VanVelzen and Alain Clark.

Africa scores
For those desiring some higher World Cup culture, Amsterdam Noord’s Tolhuistuin (a park situated across the water behind Amsterdam CS) is hosting a World Cup and Africa-themed open-air party from June to August. There, among the park’s monumental trees, a stage, wooden dance floor and bar are the venue for live, big-screen matches plus dj’s, modern dance performances, Sunday markets, films and famous African bands, like Bibi Tanga & The Selenites. The Tolhuistuin party is every weekend and some weekdays all summer long.

Elsewhere, the World Cup has inspired many Dutch museums to focus on Africa and football. At Leiden’s Museum Volkenkunde, South Africa is the theme of the summer exhibitions (June-August 22), including a photo-retrospective of the work of Ernest Cole (1940-1990), South Africa’ first photo journalist, who documented his peoples’ plight under the Apartheid regime.
Meanwhile, starting in June, Amsterdam’s Tropenmuseum and Tropen Theater are hosting a ‘great spectacle’ called ‘Africa scoort’ (Africa scores!) based around the World Cup. The Tropen Museum’s Lichthal has been transformed into a huge football stadium for hosting interactive exhibitions capturing the African World Cup spirit and experience. Exhibits include documentaries about African fans on the street, the township cafes and the production of vuvuzelas, as well as profiles of the six African World Cup teams and a ‘Wall of Fame’ of famous African footballers. The Tropen Theater meanwhile has been converted into an African Sports bar, where South African beer is on tap and the walls are decorated with posters and shirts of Africa’s great football stars.

• hollandheinekenplein.nl
• seetickets.nl
• expertsvanornaje.nl
• cocacola.nl/wk/
• tolhuistuin.nl/programma
• afrikascoort.nl