It is no doubt that the Dutch people are the most dramatic during sports activities. They pride football as their only source of excitement and relaxation.
Oranjegekte (Orange craze) or Oranjekoorts (Orange fever) is a phenomenon in the Netherlands that occurs during major sporting events, especially international football championships, F1 Grand Prix, and during Koningsdag, an annual holiday celebrating the king’s birthday.
It manifests itself in the wearing of orange clothing such as T-shirts, caps, and scarfs; lavish attention for sports and sports fans in the media; and the decoration of cars, rooms, houses, shops, and even entire streets in orange, the traditional color of the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau.
This name and association date back at least to William the Silent (William of Orange) who founded the house in 1544. The color is taken both from the name and from his coat of arms.
If you have ever watched the Dutch national soccer team play football anywhere in the world or if you’ve been to Amsterdam during Holland’s annual King’s Day celebration (formerly Queen’s Day), you may wonder why nearly all Dutch people dress in orange during such occasions.
Dutch people are big soccer fans. They call themselves the orange legion and as much down-to-earth. They are always looking forward to the next European or World Cup that is organized every two years during summertime.
A couple of weeks before the tournament begins, Dutch people start decorating everything in the orange color; houses, streets, cars, buildings, offices, etc.
support to the team ‘Oranje’ = Orange. And when the game is on Dutch people dress up in crazy orange outfits. From orange lions, clowns, weird hats, painted faces we go all out.
Actually, Dutch people started the ‘crazy’ outfits as soccer supporters. After a couple of years, other countries followed our lead, and now almost every crazy-for-soccer-nation dresses up in weird outfits.
When the game is on they like to watch on big screens in the streets, bars, public squares, or with the whole neighborhood in someone’s backyard. With lots of drinks, food, and the BBQ fired up.
Don’t be surprised to get invited to a watching party of the Orange Team with Dutch people. They like to share this experience and are very proud of their team.
Before every big tournament, they are very critical of their national team like every other nation. But when the tournament starts Dutch people go full orange beast mode and believe they would win.
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