TILBURG - In Your Pocket

Tilburg is a true sports city. In fact, more than 90 different
sports from aikido and darts to volleyball and swimming can
be practiced at one of the many sports centres scattered
around town. At a professional level, you can attend home
games of Tilburg’s two most beloved teams: the Destil
Trappers (ice hockey) and Willem II (football). The musclemen
of the Destil Trappers and the local heroes of Willem II both
play in the highest Dutch leagues of their respective sports
and each has been successful over the course of their long
and storied histories.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey may not be the biggest sport in the Netherlands,
but the home games at the cosy Stappegoor Stadium are
always thrilling and packed with action. In addition to some
Dutch stars you can also watch a mix of players of different
nationalities (Italian, Swedish, American and Russian)
wearing the white and blue jersey. Destil Trappers is also
a team with a long history dating back to 1939 when they
played their first game. The team won its first league title
(1946 - 1947) just after World War II and 12 more would
follow in the years to come making it the most successful
Dutch ice hockey club in history. It also holds the record for
being in the first division the longest. In the mid-1970s the
Destil Trappers even received international acclaim when it
reached the semi-finals of the European Cup. The numbers
of its most important players from the good old days have
been retired including number 31, Martin Trommelen, who
played an astonishing 954 games for his beloved Tilburg
team. This is the highest number ever achieved and a record
that won’t be broken easily. Tickets for home games can be
bought at the stadium one hour before face-off or at the
‘t Pleintje video store (Pater van den Elsenplein 2). Ticket
prices vary between €15 - 20 and students and kids pay
only €5. Unfortunately, not all schedules for Destil Trappers
home games were ready as we went to press. You can find
up-to-date information at www.trappers.nl.
Football
With names like Seedorf, Bergkamp, Kluivert, Robben,
Van Nistelrooy, Van Basten, Van Persie, Van der Sar and
many other Vans, it's no secret that football rules in the
Netherlands. Unfortunately,
Willem II isn’t at the height
of its profession, but that
doesn't stop locals from
supporting their home team.
The club was named Willem
II on January 14, 1898 after
the then Prince of Orange
and subsequent king of the Netherlands (1840 - 1849),
who established his military headquarters in Tilburg during
the Belgian Revolution. The club didn’t have its own home
stadium at first, but played at different pitches around town.
Until 1916, football was largely the domain of the western
side of the country, but in that year things changed when a
provincial club called Willem II won the national title for the
first time. During World War II the league carried on as usual
and the stadiums were fuller than ever, but attending a match
didn’t come without risks as the Germans considered these
venues ideal places for raids. To its credit, Willem II didn’t
change its name during the war and continued to play in the
national colours of the Dutch flag. At away games, Willem II
players were often applauded by the other team’s supporters
as an opportunity to express their patriotism. Unfortunately,
the war brought devastation to Willem II’s home pitch. Due
to fuel shortages, most of the wooden seats and other
infrastructure ended up in local fireplaces.
tilburg.inyourpocket.com
SPORTS IN TILBURG
In 1974, Willem II was featured heavily in the media when
it opened a boarding school for young players, the first in
the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the team’s results were
so poor that supporters arrived at ticket counters in their
hundreds rather than thousands. In 1995, Willem II reached
another milestone in its history when a completely renovated
stadium, which seats 14,700 people, was opened at the
Goirleseweg. In 1999, the club even made it to the lucrative
Champions League. However, a decade later the jubilant
mood came to an end when bankruptcy was narrowly avoided
in 2010. The significantly downsized organisation and players
were faced with the virtually impossible task of staying in the
Dutch Premier League and after a desperate season were
finally relegated. However, less than a year later the club was
once again promoted to the top league after a fascinating
encounter with neighbour FC Den Bosch. This season Willem
II has started reasonably well with a couple of draws and
this year’s objective is simply to stay in the Premier League
without playoffs. The fortnightly home games draw crowds
of almost 12,000 and tickets can be bought at the stadium
located at Goirleseweg 34. The reception desk is open 13:00
- 17:00 on weekdays. On match days the stadium’s ticket
counters are open 90 minutes before kick-off. Tickets can
also be purchased online via www.besteljekaartje.nl. Prices
vary between €20 - 35, with discounts for kids. Visit www.
willem-ii.nl for more information.
Watch the Destil Trappers and their angry mascot
Football: Willem II
Sept
Date Time Match Venue
30 14:30 Willem II vs. Pec Zwolle W2
Oct
6 18:45 Willem II vs. RKC Waalwijk W2
Nov
3 19:45 Willem II vs. FC Utrecht W2
24 20:45 Willem II vs. Heracles Almelo W2
Dec
1 19:45 Willem II vs. Sc Heerenveen W2
16 16:30 Willem II vs. Ajax W2
Jan
20 Willem II vs. ADO Den Haag W2
Feb
3 Willem II vs. Feyenoord W2
22 Willem II vs. N.E.C. W2
Mar
9 Willem II vs. VVV Venlo W2
Autumn 2012/Winter 2013
E15