Thousands of FC Volendam fans celebrate the team's promotion to the Eredivisie
There were wild celebrations in Volendam last night as FC Volendam confirmed their promotion to the highest Dutch football league, the Eredivisie, with a 0-1 win away at Jong AZ. Hundreds of supporters were waiting for the team at the club’s stadium, the Kras Stadion, to celebrate the promotion.
This was in addition to the around 1,500 supporters who had traveled to Alkmaar to see the promotion happen in AZ’s AFAS Stadium. Fans set off fireworks, lit flares, and partied in the streets of the city.
The promotion comes a year after the Volendammers were relegated from the Eredivisie. It is the 11th time that the team has been promoted to the Eredivisie in its history.
The winning goal was scored by Alex Plat. Rick Kruys’ team can also become league champions on Sunday when they face second placed team Excelsior Rotterdam at home.
FC Volendam will have to spend 1.2 million euros on changing their pitch ahead of next season. Eredivisie rules state that all teams must play on a natural grass pitch, while the Volendammers currently have an astroturf pitch. Crowdfunding has been started to pay for this, which has currently raised 32.4 percent of the total needed.
It was not all plain sailing for Volendam this season. Kruys’ side lost their first three league games of the season, which caused concern within the club. But a few signings were added, and the club decided to stick with Kruys, a decision that has now bore fruit.
“This is so beautiful, especially for all those people. Of course, I was still nervous until the end, because it was a minimal margin. It is great that we can play the championship match in our own stadium on Sunday against the second-placed side. That should be the crowning achievement of a great season", Kruys said to AD.
Excelsior, ADO Den Haag, FC Dordrecht, and SC Cambuur will battle for second place in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football. Second place also guarantees promotion to the Eredivisie.
