The Last Crusade: Holland v England, Amsterdam, March 18

H0lland v England
Friendly
Johan Cruyff ArenA, Amsterdam
Holland
23 Mar 2018

This is England's first visit to Amsterdam since August 2009. During that encounter Jermain Defoe popped up to score two 2nd half goals to equalise after England had trailed to two 1st half goals from Dirk Kurt and Rafael Van der Vaart. In fact England have not lost to the Dutch since the new stadium was built in 1996. This tally includes 3 draws and 1 win.

Tickets were in plentiful supply as the Dutch conceded a generous allocation to the FA. Somewhere in the region of 5200 English had been allocated into the official England end and the game itself was a sell out.

This is the first international game of 2018 and is the first of four friendly games that the Three Lions will play in the run up to Russia. Next up will be Italy at Wembley next Tuesday . Then during the second international break we play Nigeria at Wembley on 2 June and Costa Rica at Elland Road on 7 June. Ten days later we will be checking in for our Aeroflot flight to Mother Russia.

Holland 0 England 1
Attendance: 51,500

A new looking England with a back three of Kyle Walker, John Stones and Joe Gomez (replaced by Harry Maguire) looked good, enabling England more opportunity to play through midfield. This formation does give the opposition a chance to press you in dangerous positions but with a keeper like Pickering who played like an extra outfield defender the benefits are obvious. Throughout the match England produced countless opportunities and should have had a penalty when Rashford was clearly fouled in the box.In the end the teams were separated by a superb strike from Jessie Lingard on 59 minutes marking his first goal for England.

The Amsterdam ArenA had officially been renamed the Johan Cuyff ArenA in recognition to the memory of one of the greatest players that ever graced a football pitch.
The stadium itself has a capacity of 54000.

Day 1 - Hotel Jan Luyke (Museum District)

View from loft

Caution! This is not a Gardening shop

1st beer at Cafe Mooy

The Olofspoort is famous for its Dutch liquors and spirits, we enjoyed a few jenevers (Dutch Gin) with a group of Ukrainians in this bar.

No night out in Amsterdam is complete without Dutch Chips

Day 2 - It is match day in Amsterdam and its Pancake for breakfast (the perfect hangover cure).

First Stop - 'The Anne Frank House'

This bookshelf concealed the entrance to the Secret Annex. It was here that Anne Frank, her family and four others hid from the Nazi's for more than 2 years.

The Westerkerk, the burial place of Rembrandt and famous for being mentioned by Anne Frank in her diaries as she could hear the bells chime the time.

The Anne Frank statue in the courtyard of Westerkerk

Henri Willig - famous Amsterdam Gouda

Midday and the Grasshopper has been invaded

...so have some surrounding Canals

.......We escape down an alley in the 'no photo zone'

......Back on the tourist trail.
This obelisk on Dam Square commemorates

the Dutch killed in World War 2

Street performers at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam

Clogs

Canals

Cops

Cafe de Sluyswacht (former lock keepers house)

is the venue of the 1st pint

Statue of Spinoza who was a philosopher who championed tolerance, freedom of expression and multi culturality. His cloak is adorned with rose winged parakeets which is an exotic bird that has settled in Amsterdam and can be found all over the city, this bird symbolises Amsterdam as a successful immigrant city.

Munttorren (mint tower) from the canal

Lunch at Cafe de Gaeper, one of

Amsterdam's famous brown cafes.

A nice glass of Jopen brewed in Haarlem

Fully operational drawbridge

Rembrandt Square (Rembrandtplein)

Coffee Time 😊

More Dutch Chips 💪

Munttoren (Mint Tower)

Amsterdam Museum

Nags at the Palace

Approach to the arena from the Metro station at Strandvliet on the 54 line

North Stand (Noord B) entrance

Dutch 'tat'

The England entrance

But first it's Chips (Dutch style)

Anthem's (1) - The band assembles

Anthem's (2) - The lights dim

Anthems (3) - The light show begins

Anthems (4) - The perfect response to the morons who booed the Dutch National Anthem

Noord end

The Tartan Army have sneaked in a Saltire, oh
we love a bit of banter

England on the attack again

Jessie Lingard's strike registers England's first ever victory in the Johan Cruyff ArenA.

Post match Party at Cafe Schumich
featuring Monique and Sue

Day 3 - Museums and Canals

Rijksmuseum (National museum) for the best collection of Rembrandt's art in the world, we didn't make it this time

The home of the most comprehensive

collection of Van Gough's work.

'Self Portrait'

'Field of Flowers near Arles'

'Sunflowers'

'The Yellow House'

Inside the museum

In the square in Spui is the "Little Darling" (Lieverdje) statue
depicting an Amsterdam 'street urchin' with a heart of gold

Cafe Hoppe on Spui Square is one of the

most famous of all of the brown cafe's.

The cafe has been here since 1670 and has been visited by Queen Beatrix and Freddy Heineken

Corner of Heisteeg

The floating flower market on Singel canal

Entrance

Time to ride the Amsterdam Circle Line

Passing the 18thC Dutch East India Company ship

'Amsterdam' in the Oosterdok

'Nemo' the Science Museum

Sea Palace, Amsterdam - Don't eat here its far too expensive

Hop on, hop off at Central station

Cafe Loetje in the Museum quarter

Bicycle Flat Amsterdam (capacity 2500)

Amsterdam Tower and the EYE Film Institute

Court of Appeal

Boat Houses are not a cheap option for buyers, they
have a huge waiting list and require licensing every 7 years

View of the Westerkerk from our boat

Day 4 - Amsterdam Arena and the last night

Tram from the Museum Square to Central station

and back on line 54 for the metro to the stadium

Alighting at Bijlmer for the stadium tour

This statue commemorates Bobby Haarms who played for Ajax but was better known as a hard coach. The caption reads 'De Goede Beul' (the good torturer)

The England dressing room from Friday night

Hannibal Lecter

We are Ajax

33 'Eredivisie' titles

Ajax corridor of fame

4 European Champions League titles (3 on the bounce)

Pano from the main stand

The East Stand (Oost)

The South Stand (Zuid)

Important seats

Ajax muriel

Dutch Masters (left wall)

Dutch Masters (right wall)

'Balloon d'or' winner 2018

The East Stand (Oost)

England's End (Noord C/D)

The South Stand (Zuid G,H, J)

Concourse of Block 406 (West E)

The Dutch manager gives a press conference

2017-18 Eredivisie Champions

Conference Room

Home Changing Rooms

Trophy Room

The Uruguayan scored 74 goals for Ajax in 97 games

The legend of Johan Cruyff

Painting dedicated to the hardcore fans of Ajax, mainly 'F-Side' but since the move to the new stadium they also have 'VAK 410' who also vacate the South stand (in the upper tier)

New Colours

Stadium shop

Sue with Lucky Lynx

Ajax club shop

England's entrance in daylight

Stadium

Metro (Line 54) is bang on time

In'T Aepjen (In the Monkeys) is the oldest 'brown cafe' in Amsterdam. Located near the station and at the entrance to Chinatown, it dates back to 1519.