It’s been a sea of Dutch orange jerseys this summer in Germany for the Euros. Just yesterday, Dutch fans turned Berlin orange before the kickoff against France. But what’s the story behind the iconic ‘Oranje’ tradition? 433futbol takes a deeper look.
The Netherlands football kits are some of the most iconic in football. Of course, it helps that some of the beautiful game’s best players are from Holland. After all, Johan Cruyff‘s genius aced ‘Total Football’ and popularized the fluid style of play during the 1970s.
The Dutch take massive pride in their orange identity, more so than the red, white, and blue that adorn their flag. The tricolor typically makes its way onto the team’s away kits. That 2014 World Cup away kit featuring the ‘Flying Dutchman‘ always comes to mind.
The obsession with orange returns to the House of Orange-Nassau, the Dutch royal family, which began with William of Orange. The leader spearheaded the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule in the 16th century. Naturally, the vibrant color evolved to represent resistance and independence.
The ‘Oranje,’ as the Dutch football team is called, just as France is nicknamed Les Bleus, is Holland’s most famous sports team. But the country’s Olympic athletes, hockey, and baseball teams also sport the color.
Photo: ig/virgilvandijk + johancruyff
