Today at 09:00 • Updated today at 09:15
The Dutch national team has yet to start the World Cup, but the tournament in Rucphen has already been a success. From this weekend, a complete World Cup village will be ready for the Dutch fans in the countryside.
We have been working hard on the construction in recent weeks. “You won’t see this anywhere else. It is unique in the Netherlands,” says initiator Ronnie Gommers.
Building on the European Championship village
After the success of the European Championship village during the previous final tournament, Ronnie and co-organizer Angelo Heeren have once again pulled out all the stops to provide supporters around the Oranje matches with an unforgettable party. “There will be a life-size screen of eighteen square meters, there will be food trucks, beer and artists performing live.”
During the first match of the Dutch team, next Sunday, the organizers expect around two thousand visitors. “We started the preparations in December. Fortunately, we already had a script that we can largely reuse. And if the weather turns out to be the same as it was two years ago, it will really be an incredibly big party,” says Angelo.
Grandstand for stadium feeling
According to Ronnie, the atmosphere is further enhanced by the way the site is laid out. “We have built a large stand next to the screen where small children and people with reduced mobility can sit. This stand creates a real stadium feeling.”
In addition to the match against Japan, the match against Sweden on June 20 can also be followed live in the World Cup village. The organizers will skip the meeting with Tunisia on June 26. “That match starts at three o’clock at night. We can’t do that to our visitors and the surrounding area,” says Ronnie.
Warming Up with WC Experience
The party in the World Cup village in Rucphen will kick off on Saturday, June 13, with the ‘Warming Up!’. There will also be performances by WC Experience and De Marlets. Stef Ekkel and Peter Beense will also make an appearance on June 20.
As far as the organizers Ronnie and Angelo are concerned, the Oranjefeest can’t go wrong anymore. Now only the Dutch team still has to do its best. Ronnie: “We have a strong team, although it hasn’t really stood out so far. Believe me: from Sunday we will play like crazy.”
