THE HAGUE, Netherlands. As Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany, a typically unassuming suburban street in The Hague has undergone a vibrant transformation, cloaked in orange to celebrate the Dutch national soccer team. The sound of 64 kilometers (40 miles) of orange bunting fluttering and the rhythmic thud of hammers securing orange tarps signal the onset of a Dutch summer of soccer.
Marktweg is among several streets in the Netherlands that receive an extensive orange makeover during European Championships and World Cups, supporting the national team known as Oranje. This tradition, rooted in the Dutch royal family’s color and the team’s iconic shirts, dates back 36 years to the Netherlands’ historic Euro 1988 win.
For two months leading up to Euro 2024, a committed group of up to 10 volunteers, swelling on weekends, has been meticulously decorating their street. The result is a dazzling display of orange, fostering a strong sense of community. Homes are draped in orange tarps and banners, streetlights and trees are swathed in orange, and even garbage containers are transformed. Litter bins, in a nod to national pride, are adorned in the red, white, and blue of the Dutch flag.
Macho Vink, a 35-year-old truck driver, worked from a cherry picker, hammering nails into walls to secure the expansive tarps covering the street. “It’s time for a big party,” he exclaimed. “Get some positivity back,” he added, as a passing car horn sounded in approval.
This vibrant tradition began during Euro 1988, when the Netherlands clinched its only major soccer title. Danny van Dijk, a key organizer, shared how it all started as a simple prank. “It started as a joke — hang a ball sprayed with text in a tree,” Van Dijk recounted. The idea quickly evolved into a full-blown spectacle, with local business sponsorships enhancing the scale and quality of the decorations.
“The neighbors liked it, we liked it, and now every two years we’re up in the scaffolding and cherry pickers to decorate the street,” Van Dijk explained. The elaborate decorations not only attract visitors but also foster neighborly connections. “You meet other people, have a chat. The children like it, the people like it. It really brings people together,” he added.
Anticipation is high for the Dutch team, with hopes pinned on captain Virgil van Dijk leading the team to victory. Once the tournament concludes, win or lose, the dedicated team of decorators will dismantle their creations. “We wait for two or three days to recover from the hangover,” Van Dijk laughed. “Then with 10 men we take down everything. You come back and it’s all gone.”
The transformation of Marktweg into an orange wonderland is a testament to community spirit and national pride, marking a spectacular beginning to Euro 2024.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
