EURO 2020

Amsterdam was one of the venues at the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship finals. The bid for four EURO 2020 matches was a joint initiative by the KNVB, the Netherlands Ministry for Health, Welfare and Sport, the City of Amsterdam, the Johan Cruyff ArenA and Schiphol Group.

Euro 2020 took place in 13 different countries across Europe. The tournament was held in multiple cities to mark the 60th anniversary of the tournament. The Johan Cruyff ArenA provided the stage for three games in group C, all in which The Netherlands was one of the teams. Oranje beated Ukraine (3-2), Austria (2-0) and North Macedonia and finished as group winner. Also, a round of 16 tie (Wales - Denmark 0-4) was played in the Johan Cruyff ArenA. 

After the successful bid, the stakeholders of that time looked forward to the tournament with high expectations.

A tremendous prospect for both the fans and the national team

Bert van Oostveen, at the time Director of the Netherlands Professional Football Association, was excited about the prospect of this event: “Co-hosting UEFA EURO 2020 together with twelve other cities will give Dutch supporters the opportunity - after years of throwing parties at championship finals abroad - to entertain foreign fans on their home soil. That is a tremendous prospect for our fans. And of course, we just have to be part of a tournament held in 13 European cities. That is our ambition and we are taking responsibility for the event with all parties involved.“

Great honour for Amsterdam

No major European sports event would be complete without our capital, in the opinion of - at the time - Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan en Alderman for Sport Eric van der Burg and the Amsterdam City Council. “UEFA EURO 2020 will have a wonderful effect on recreational sport and on sports promotion in the city, and consequently on talent development. For quite some time, Amsterdam has been working on refurbishing football accommodations, squares and schoolyards. The construction of small-sized pitches, for example, has enabled more and more young people in Amsterdam to play football. UEFA EURO 2020 will be an opportunity to show what we are capable of.”

Sporting nation

Then Netherlands Minister for Health, Welfare and Sport Edith Schippers was also delighted: "What could be greater than to give everyone, and especially children, the chance to see their heroes shine in their own country? By organising major sporting events such as the European Football Championship, we will give them this opportunity and contribute to making the Netherlands a real sporting nation."

CEO Johan Cruyff ArenA Henk Markerink: “It is fantastic for a stadium like the ArenA to stage European Championship matches. The prospect alone will be an enormous boost to all development plans in and around the stadium. UEFA EURO 2020 gives us something to work towards so that we can create a new legacy for the stadium by refurbishing it on the basis of quality and innovation.”

Ad Rutten, at the time COO of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol: “With direct connections to more than 300 destinations, Schiphol airport is very easy to reach for fans from all over the world. Travelling to the ArenA only takes a quarter of an hour by train. I’m looking forward to welcoming all the football players and their fans on Dutch soil.”