Dutch Class

One of the things I try to impress on my English friends is that the Dutch don’t necessarily always conform 100% to the cartoon stereotype. They don’t eat cheese ALL the time, most of them don’t wear clogs and the vast majority of them have never been near a coffee shop that sells dope and they don’t visit the red light district in Amsterdam all the time.

They do however from time to time indulge in  orange mania - particularly on or around major football tournaments. The aftermath of Euro 2008 is no different with a plethora of orange products in the sales. Orange radios, shovels, USB hubs, chocolate bars, etc, etc. The one that most caught my eye was orange Crocs sandals though. The model below was for sale in a shop window in Leiden this week.

These sandals have always intrigued me. They are expensive (at least at Millets Farm garden centre), they look like…rubber sandals and as far as I can judge from a quick try they are not particularly comfortable.

At least these orange ones look a little zippier than the mint green and pink models common in Oxfordshire. Perhaps if I got some my friends would think me more trendy. Hmmm…

While British Football supporters are without an obvious team to support for Euro 2008 (the European football championship held in in Switzerland and Austria during June 2008), there is no such split loyalty in The Netherlands.

The Dutch national football team are playing in Euro 2008 and thousands of supporters are expected to follow their team to their games. Although over-land travel to the venues is possible from The Netherlands, news reports say the Dutch Football Association’s official transport company, OAD has chartered 100 flights to fly Dutch fans to the European football championship matches.

There are plans for OAD to transport 15,000 football fans a day for the first three matches. These are: Netherlands vs Italy on 9th June, Netherlands vs France on 13th June, and Netherlands vs Romania on 17th June. All three matches take place in the Swiss city of Berne.

Most flights will leave the Netherlands on the morning of the game and return to Schiphol and Rotterdam Airport after the match. “Orange Parties” will be held for Dutch supporters ahead of the matches.