Among the selections with the most emblematic colors of world football, the Netherlands feature prominently, with their orange jersey. A choice that is anything but a coincidence.
Each national team is distinguished by the color of its jersey. Often historical colors, which are regularly found on national flags and which identify the selections. To the point that we name the players by this color: the Blues of the French team, the Spanish Roja or the Auriverde of Brazil.
Among the teams historically associated with a color, we find in particular the “Oranje” of the Netherlands. An orange color, therefore, that we find in football, but also in almost all other sports, and in other aspects of Dutch culture.
This love story between orange and the Netherlands has a historical dimension. It comes from the 16th century and the arrival on the throne of William I of Naussau, of the house… of Orange-Nassau. The Orange family then became the ruling family in Holland, and remains so today. This historic family will, over the generations, drive the development of the country and fully integrate Dutch history and culture.
In reference to this house, the finalists of the 2010 World Cup therefore wear an orange jersey, which brings together supporters from all over the country. If they are so recognized and so affiliated with this color, it is also because the Dutch are a historic nation in world football. Beyond the epic 2010 World Cup, worn by Wesley Sneijder and Robin Van Persie, the Netherlands has many legends who have worn the orange jersey. At the forefront obviously, King Johan Cruyff, who took Barça and Ajax Amsterdam to the highest level, without managing to win an international competition with his selection. At the beginning of the 1990s, it was Dennis Bergkamp who led the Orange, without further success.
On the occasion of Euro 2024, from June 15 in Germany, the Netherlands will once again be a team to watch. Led by a talented new generation, the team coached by Ronald Koeman could surprise some of the competition’s favorites. The Dutch coach, himself a former player and coach of FC Barcelona, does not hide his team’s ambition for the upcoming competition: “The objective is to win the Euro, as with everything the world. When we play a tournament, we try to win it. The Netherlands can be strong. To do this, the selection will need the support of its supporters who, for sure, will be numerous in Germany and will color the stands orange.