Turkish club Galatasaray’s win sparks fireworks celebrations in Amsterdam, The Hague
Hundreds of supporters of Turkish soccer club Galatasaray flooded streets in Amsterdam Nieuw-West and The Hague’s Schilderswijk on Saturday night after the Istanbul team secured its fourth consecutive Turkish league championship, with fireworks, flares, and heavy traffic disruptions reported in both cities, according to local media.
In the Hague, due to the size of the crowd and traffic safety concerns, police fully closed the Hobbemastraat to traffic, while officers monitored supporters waving flags and celebrating with car horns.
In Amsterdam, large crowds gathered around Plein ’40-’45 in Nieuw-West after Galatasaray clinched the Turkish Süper Lig title with a 4-2 home win over Antalyaspor, a result that left rival Fenerbahçe unable to catch the club in the standings.
As in previous years, many fans converged on Plein ’40-’45 to celebrate. Some supporters set off fireworks, while others drove through the area honking their horns. The celebrations caused traffic jams on several streets in Slotermeer late Saturday night.
In The Hague, an estimated 400 supporters gathered in the Hobbemastraat in the Schilderswijk district immediately after the final whistle. The crowd set off large amounts of heavy fireworks and flares, covering the street in a red glow.
Around 10:30 p.m., organizers asked people to go home and clear the street, but the crowd largely ignored the request. Police remained in the background to monitor the situation as supporters continued the celebrations.
