AFPOranje supporter in Germany
NOS Voetbal•vandaag, 00:01
It is a mysterious phenomenon at this EC. Outside the stadiums, the Oranje fans are perhaps the most conspicuous supporters of the tournament, with the Oranje marches and the jumping from left to right. In the stadium, that atmosphere seems to have largely disappeared.
“That has to do with the composition of the fans,” says Mark van Vugt, professor of psychology at the VU and author of the book FC Sapiens: What football tells us about human behaviour“You have a lot of fair-weather fans in the Dutch national team, but few die-hard fans.”
Professor of Psychology Van Vugt: ‘Too many fair-weather fans at Oranje’
Is there a role for the KNVB in creating atmosphere in the stadium? “We are always actively involved in the atmosphere and experience of the supporters, for example by using flags and banners that you see in the stadium,” the football association said when asked.
“The KNVB also maintains good contact with supporters’ associations, for example by organising fan walks, setting up fan zones and the artists we invite.”
Snollebollekes
How can the atmosphere in the stadium be improved? Professor Van Vugt is clear: “I would try to identify the leaders who have a driving function. These are people who, if necessary, stand with their backs to the field to incite the public.”
“Maybe we need Snollebollekes to cause something in the stadium,” Van Vugt winks. Before adding seriously: “There needs to be a certain structure where people stand up and say: ‘We’re going to start this song now and do it together.'”
ProShots
The Dutch Fanatics, a group of fanatical supporters who want more atmosphere in the stadium when the Netherlands plays, want to fulfill the driving function that Van Vugt is talking about. They find the boring encouragement “Holland, Holland” and the wave not to be atmospheric elements that fit football and have been committed to a ‘real’ football atmosphere for about five years.
Or as Stefan van Leeuwen of the Dutch Fanatics said earlier in an interview with Nails and Heads on NPO Radio 2: “We sing, jump and stand behind the team for ninety minutes. We don’t wear carrot suits.”
‘Also standing when no goals have been scored’
The KNVB says it is cooperating, but does not have everything in its hands when it comes to the atmosphere. “Something like a drum: that really depends on the supporters themselves. What happens inside the stadium in terms of atmosphere is less in our sphere of influence.”
The Fanatics try to fill that gap and create atmosphere with large banners. New songs have also been created to broaden the repertoire.
They try to sing those songs with as large a group as possible, by sitting together as much as possible. Or actually standing. “We just want to stand for the Dutch team for ninety minutes, even if no goals are scored,” Jesse van der Pluijm says about that on NPO Radio 2.
