PEC Zwolle, perennial under-dogs in Dutch Football, have captured the hearts of the nation this season, read on to see why.
Those who established residency in central Holland during the early parts of the ninth century were greeted with the wrath of Mother Nature. Constant flooding from the North Sea and latching rivers posed a threat to settlements, often usurping entire areas with water. Yet, our planet’s geological shifts were kind enough to impart a gift upon those battling the high rising waters. A swell of land between two major rivers proved the only dry ground during flooding seasons. That savior ground was established as the city of Zwolle.
If there’s a club in Dutch football that best embodies the story you’ve just read – despair, hope, and an unmistakable battle against the inevitable – it is ironically that of PEC Zwolle. The club situated northeast of Amsterdam is the pride of a city with a rich history, unique to the more popular Dutch municipalities. Decades of turmoil at the club have always been glittered with dashes of promise. In 2018, that promise may finally be coming to a climax. This season, PEC Zwolle have emerged as a beacon of hope for smaller Dutch clubs, rising to the top five after spending much of the past two decades battling relegation.
