The better the Dutch national team performs at the World Cup in Qatar, the busier it will be in the pubs. Like on Saturday when the Dutch won 3-1 against the United States. “We were full, packed full,” says a happy catering boss Geert Blenckers who owns several bars in Brabant.
At the start of the tournament it was not very busy in the entertainment venues. There was still plenty of room in the Blenckers catering establishments in Den Bosch, Breda and Helmond, among others. But now that the knockout phase has been reached, people from Brabant know how to find the pubs and the beer is flowing in abundance. “People are arriving earlier and earlier to get a seat,” says Blenckers.
“I also expect a full house on Friday.”
Orange also predominates in the cafes and pubs of Eindhoven. A lot of things are happening in the city and surroundings to keep the orange fever high. “For example, there is an Oranjetent in Veldhoven,” says Ruud Bakker. He is chairman of the Koninklijke Horeca Nederland department in Eindhoven. “That tent attracts many supporters because there is no such place in the center of Eindhoven.”
“The drink bar in Eindhoven was also packed,” says a proud Blenckers. “I also expect full house on Friday.”
“No discussion, just old-fashioned football fun.”
There was a lot to do around the championship in Qatar, where many people died during the construction of the stadiums due to poor working conditions. According to the catering industry, there is now nothing to notice about that fuss. “There is no discussion, just good old-fashioned football enjoyment,” says Blenckers. In Breda, with a view to the upcoming match, people are already thinking bigger. “If Orange goes even further, we can even start thinking about large screens in the city center,” pub owner Johan de Vos told ANP.
On Friday evening at 8 p.m., the Orange squad will play against Argentina in the quarterfinals. There is no need to make a reservation at the pubs, but there is a warning sound: “Vol is vol”.