Holland Football Culture

If you are in the Netherlands for work and need recommendations for some activities or things to do in your free time, the football culture of the Netherlands is very developed, with the country having some of the most spectacular stadiums in Europe.

Visits to stadiums or even evenings with friends at a football match can be very recreational after a day's work. And to save you the effort of searching for matches or stadiums, we present you some of the most famous ones and details about prices or visiting hours. Here are three must-see stadiums in Holland:

Ajax Amsterdam

Ajax Amsterdam's stadium was built with a budget of 140 million euros and took 3 years to complete. During official matches, the Amsterdam Arena can accommodate more than 53,000 spectators, and in the case of concerts and cultural events, the capacity can increase to almost 68,000 seats.

Among the most interesting things to see on a visit to the Amsterdam Arena are the dressing rooms, which you will be able to see as part of an organized tour, the greensward, the conference room, and the room where the meetings with the press team are held. Amsterdam Arena also has an official shop of the Ajax club where you can buy souvenirs.

• The price of a ticket is 15 euros
• The stadium can be visited on any non-match day from 10:30
• The tour lasts 60 minutes

Philips Stadium

If you are at least fond of Dutch Football, Philips Stadium must be on your personal list of attractions and places to visit as this is PSV's stadium. The stadium has a capacity of 35,000 seats, making it the third largest stadium in the Netherlands.

It is frequently used for concerts and is only a 20-minute walk from Eindhoven Main Station. Some of the most important matches were played here. 

• Prices start at 12 euros to tour the stadium
• If you are a visitor, parking is free
• The tour for groups only starts with a minimum of 15 visitors

The Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam

Although no matches or sporting events have been held here for more than 17 years, the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium has remained one of the most important cultural attractions for sports and football lovers in the Netherlands in general. It was built in 1928, especially for the organization of the Olympic Games in the summer of the same year. A year after its inauguration, it received architectural improvements, doubling the capacity for spectators to 64,000.

In this stadium in 1928, the Olympic flame burned for the first time in history, thus marking the fact that Olympic sports were considered an art at that time. The flame remained lit throughout the event, right next to the Marathon Tower.

• The Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam can be visited on Sundays, from 11 am to 5 pm
• Prices start at 5 euros for children and 6 euros for adults

Other important stadiums for the Dutch football phenomenon

The Netherlands is a true source of indulgence for those who are passionate about football, and throughout the country you will find dozens of iconic stadiums where historic events in international football have taken place.

De Kuip - Stadium belonging to the city of Rotterdam, inaugurated in 1937, then renovated in 1949, with a capacity of 69,000 seats for spectators. To see the schedule and the matches that will be played at this stadium, click here.

De Grolsch Veste - Built and inaugurated in 1998, the stadium belongs to Twente, and in the first match played at this stadium, PSV lost 0-3 in an Eredivisie match. For tickets, click here.

GelreDome - Just two years after its inauguration, the stadium hosted three matches in the famous Euro 2000 championship. Turkey-Italy, Romania-Portugal and Slovenia-Norway.

Even if you schedule a visit to a stadium to do the full tour or buy a ticket to a match, the experience is very pleasant and recreational, perfect for a few hours of relaxation after a day's work.

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