PORTALBERITA.CO.ID - Rotterdam, a major Dutch metropolis, is gearing up for a unique World Cup experience where national loyalties often intersect and mingle, reflecting its highly diverse population. Approximately 4,000 football enthusiasts are anticipated to converge three hours before the opening match on 14 June at the Maassilo, a vast former concrete grain facility repurposed as a premier nightclub venue.
The atmosphere inside will be distinctly vibrant, marked by the colours blue, the aroma of arros moro, and the rhythms of conga drums and ritmo kombina. This massive gathering is specifically organized for supporters of Curaçao, the tournament's least populous debutant nation and a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The shared connection between Curaçao and the Netherlands is profound, as nearly the entire Curaçaoan squad was developed in the Netherlands, with 12 players currently active in Dutch professional leagues. Furthermore, the team is guided by experienced Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, illustrating a deep, intertwined footballing relationship.
"It’s historic for Curaçao: it’s historic for the Netherlands," stated Sontje Davelaar, a 41-year-old DJ for the organizing community radio station, Fortius.
"Curaçao is a son of the Netherlands. For the first time we’re going to the World Cup together as a family," Sontje Davelaar added, emphasizing the familial nature of this shared moment.
Rotterdam, where nearly 60% of residents claim a non-Dutch background, presents a tapestry of allegiances far richer than the standard orange sea typically associated with Dutch football support. Another significant contingent will be following Cape Verde, an archipelago nation also making its World Cup debut.
Six members of the Cape Verdean squad hail from Rotterdam, a city often dubbed "the 11th island" by its 20,000-strong Cape Verdean diaspora. Alexander Soares Silva, an administrator at FC Maense, a community club founded 48 years ago by Cape Verdeans, noted the community's high level of engagement.
As reported by Alexander Soares Silva, he faced difficulties watching the crucial final qualifying match due to overcrowding at the Sã o Nicolau cultural centre.
"We’re known as the silent migrants," Alexander Soares Silva, aged 43, explained about the Cape Verdean community's history in the city since the 1950s.
