The Dutch are a society littered with contradictions. Rising waters threaten a country largely below sea level, but it was Amsterdam that served as a breeding ground for the very capitalism which constructed our climate crisis. Nationalism inherent in the Dutch psyche sees Germany as an “other” when in reality the relationship between the two countries is as close as any. The Netherlands became famous in the football world for a revolutionary change in the perception of the game. Today, however, their current state of football is defined in many ways by conservatism.
It’s not unlike a nation-state to find itself drowning in its own conflict. In this the Dutch are not unique. But somehow, something is a bit different. The Netherlands tries to be normal and, in that pursuit, manages to break from its self-imposed mold. There’s a Dutch saying (doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg) which translates to “Just be normal, then you’re already crazy enough.” And everything in life is generally orderly: the streets are pristine, cities function well, and people are healthy.
Yet, for better or worse, Dutchies are abnormal. They reclaimed vast swathes of land from the sea and innovated ways to block its trespasses. It is a country with one of the highest volumes of agricultural exports, despite holding a tiny amount of land. Most notably to those visiting the Netherlands, its people are the only ones who would prefer you not try to speak their native tongue: English will do just fine. It’s all very strange and disorienting.
I write all of this not to poke fun at the Dutch and their inconsistencies. Just the opposite: I find them fascinating. When you add a complex history of football success to the mix, one simply can’t resist digging deeper.
This football season, I will be covering Dutch football for the site. In doing so I hope to dig deeper into the myriad questions which arise when you think about the Netherlands. Many will remain unanswered, but some may be aided by the sport. The Eredivisie is bound to be exciting, with a couple of teams vying for the top spot and the rest giving plenty of meaningful narrative contributions. Moreso, with the World Cup coming next year, all eyes will be on the Dutch national side, one which has an incontrovertible special relationship with the domestic league. The storylines of club and country are fluid, just like the style of play that first brought Dutch football to the fore of the global game. I can’t wait for you to uncover the mystical entity which is the uniquely beautiful Nederlandse voetbal.