Football life in Amsterdam continued during World War II. Ajax experienced a remarkable sporting decline, as this club won no trophies except for the 1943 cup. That was not so strange, as the successful English coach Jack Reynolds was interned and only returned after the war.

North turned upside down

Blauw-Wit became division champion twice and had its sporting highlights during those war years. De Volewijckers crowned it all with the national title of 1944, completely turning Amsterdam North upside down. And that at a time when the horrors of war were increasing with deported and hidden footballers and supporters.

150,000 tickets sold

In 1944, De Volewijckers could no longer play at their own Mosveld due to the danger of bombings on the ports. Therefore, the club moved to the Olympic Stadium for their championship matches against the 4 other division champions of the country. A total of 150,000 tickets were sold for this. People even gave away their most important food supplies to be there!

Life at stake

At the last match against Heerenveen, it was complete chaos. Just before the start, the police arrested several black market dealers, after which the tickets were given away to random bystanders. There were also people in hiding in the stadium, who knowingly put their lives at risk to watch De Volewijckers.

Danger of raids

Among them was Tip de Bruin, the later fashion entrepreneur. ‘I was happy if I could be among people again once every 2 weeks.’ According to him, it involved hundreds of people in hiding. De Bruin ignored the warnings from resistance papers about attending sports events due to the danger of raids.

NSB at the stadium

‘Will we never learn?’ said De Waarheid at the end of 1943. ‘The illegal press has constantly warned!’ A week before the championship match of De Volewijckers, 21 men were taken away in Sneek in this way. And also at the Olympic Stadium, there was an unpleasant threat upon the arrival of De Bruin. ‘At the entrance of the stadium were members of the NSB and Grüne Polizei. I walked in the middle of the crowd to enter unnoticed.’

Championship celebration

After the match, thousands of supporters walked in a festive procession through the city back home, as the trams did not run that day due to savings. De Bruin: ‘The occupiers looked strangely at that singing, cheering crowd of supporters. Many Amsterdammers joined us.’

Safe at home again

This led to a spontaneous popular celebration in Amsterdam due to the national title of De Volewijckers, from the Olympic Stadium to the Mosveld. The Germans surprisingly allowed it this time. Fortunately, because this way all those people in hiding returned home safely. They had not risked their lives for nothing.