The Dutch national football team, nicknamed Oranje, won their second victory in the European Championships yesterday evening. After the final whistle, streets turned orange as ecstatic fans went out to celebrate.
As for the match itself, the news is all good for the Dutch on that front. After a decent game, the Dutch beat Austria 2-0 in the Amsterdam Arena. It wasn’t as entertaining as the first match against Ukraine, but an early penalty by Memphis Depay and a goal in the second half by the once more excelling Dumfries got the job done for the Dutch.
“Stay home after Oranje”
Now for the not-so-good news. Oranje fans swarmed the streets in the Hague, Apeldoorn, and Enschede to celebrate the Dutch football victory. However, those celebrations turned into unrest and the police had to intervene, reports the NOS.
In the Hague, signs had been put up telling people to stay home after the match to avoid crowding. This was to prevent a situation like last Sunday when a police unit had to clear out the Jonckbloetplein square in The Hague after a group of fans began setting off fireworks and vandalising the streets.
The police’s attempt to make people stay home after the game.
However, the Oranjelegieon (Orange legion) — or maybe just people looking for a party — would not be stopped by a few signs. After the match against Austria, happy fans crowded Jonckbloetplein and Marktweg in The Hague again.
King-Willem Alexander had given a surprise visit to Marktweg earlier in the day to admire what has been called the “most beautiful orange street in the Netherlands.” However, later that evening, it was no longer calm and beautiful and the police were forced to make arrests.
Roads closed off for the ‘party roundabout’
A party…roundabout? You heard that right! In Apeldoorn, it’s a tradition for Oranje fans to celebrate the national team around one of the town’s roundabouts. Yesterday was no exception and hundreds of fans danced to the ‘party roundabout’ after the game.
The mayor had shut off connecting roads to prevent too many people from gathering but shortly after 11 PM, this happened anyways. At midnight, fireworks erupted — and, just like in The Hague, the police made arrests.
Oranje continues into the knock-out round
The Netherlands have already won their group after two matches, meaning that their third match against North Macedonia is just for spek en bonen (literally: bacon and beans, meaning there’s nothing at stake).
The first serious match — where the final 16 teams will be playing — will take place in 11(!) days in Budapest. Budapest does allow for a full stadium, so we might just end up seeing the famous Orange legion swarming through the streets of the Hungarian capital.
Have you been following the football championship? What are your thoughts so far? Tell us in the comments below!
Feature Image: bortnikau/ Deposit Photos