Culture Rotterdam

The Klassieker

When football isn’t just a game.

1 min readVan Zandvlietplein 1

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Narrated audio from our Rotterdam tour

“De Klassieker” is the biggest football match in the Netherlands: Ajax vs. Feyenoord. It’s a derby of passion, rivalry, and tradition. Across 202 meetings, Ajax won 93 times, Feyenoord 60, and 49 ended in a draw. The 8–2 Ajax win on 18 September 1983 is legendary. One of the most talked-about events was Johan Cruijff’s move to Feyenoord in the same year. Sjaak Swart, known as Mister Ajax, is the top scorer in this derby with 14 goals. Since 2009, away fans have been banned from attending the matches for safety reasons. The Klassieker is more than just football—it’s a story of identity, emotion, and national pride.

Map showing Van Zandvlietplein 1, 3077 AA Rotterdam
Van Zandvlietplein 1, 3077 AA RotterdamRotterdam
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Sources. Story: Source Story: Photos: Source Photo: Rob Bogaerts / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

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