Rotterdam prepares to celebrate Feyenoord's national title; party starts at 11:30 a.m.

By Janene Pieters on May 15, 2017 - 08:09
Feyenoord fans hold up replicas of the Eredivisie cup in De Kuip after their team won the title for the first time in 18 years, 14 May 2017
Feyenoord fans hold up replicas of the Eredivisie cup in De Kuip after their team won the title for the first time in 18 years, 14 May 2017. (Photo: @Feyenoord / Twitter)

Rotterdam will celebrate Feyenoord's first Eredivisie title in 18 years with an official congratulations ceremony on the Coolsingel today. The party officially starts at 11:30 a.m., with the team expected around noon. But fans started showing up at the Coolsingel from 6:30 a.m. this morning, according to the Volkskrant.

Many thousands of fans are expected in Rotterdam today. Ten large screens are being placed along the route the team will take to the city hall, on which the ceremony will be shown. The mayor, police and prosecutor implemented a number of measures to make sure that all goes well.

About a thousand police officers will be at the ceremony, according to the Volkskrant. A partial alcohol ban was implemented for the city center - only restaurants and pubs are allowed to sell alcohol, and it must be consumed on the pub's premises. No shops are allowed to sell alcohol today. And no alcohol is allowed on the street. The same ban was in effect on Sunday, and the police estimate that they confiscated about 10 thousand liters of beer and other alcoholic beverages. 

Supporters will not be allowed to carry large backpacks and bags or wear face covering clothing. Fans will be split into different groups for security reasons, according to RTL Nieuws. 

The municipality calls on supporters to park outside the city center and take a tram to the Coolsingel. You can get off the tram at Rotterdam Central Station, Beurs Station or Blaak Station. The Stadhuis Station will be closed. The entire Coolsingel area is closed to traffic today. 

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