The Dutch national team shirt is more than just a sports uniformโit's a symbol of national pride, historical achievements, and football aesthetics. Over the years, the shirt has taken many forms, but one element has almost always remained: the signature orange. In this blog post, we delve into the rich history of the Dutch national team shirt, its evolution, its successes at international tournaments, and the most iconic moments in which it played a key role.
The Origin of Orange: Why Orange?
The color orange is inextricably linked to the Netherlands. Its origins lie with the House of Orange-Nassau, the Dutch royal family. Since the Netherlands' first international match in 1905, when the team played in a simple white shirt with an orange sash, the color has slowly but surely become the national team's trademark.
The Shirts Through the Years (1905 - Present)
Below is an overview of the most notable shirts, brands, and performances of the Dutch national team at European and World Championships:
๐ 1905 - 1934: The First Internationals
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Football shirt : White shirt with an orange sash (or orange jersey)
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Manufacturer : No brand (custom made)
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Sponsors : None
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Tournaments : First official World Cup in 1934
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Achievements : Elimination in the first round (loss to Switzerland)
๐ 1938 World Cup (France)
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Football shirt : Plain orange, long sleeves, no logos
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Manufacturer : None
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Achievements : Another first round elimination (loss to Czechoslovakia)
๐ 1950s - 1960s: No World Cup or European Championship participation
The Netherlands didn't qualify for major tournaments during this period. The jersey remained simply orange with white shorts.
๐ 1974 World Cup (West Germany)
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Football shirt : Orange with black details, three Adidas stripes
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Manufacturer : Adidas
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Special : Johan Cruijff wore a shirt with two stripes instead of three due to a sponsorship conflict (Cruyff was associated with Puma)
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Achievements : Reached final , lost to West Germany (2-1)
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Iconic moment : Cruijff's solo in the opening minute of the final; the beginning of 'total football'
๐ European Championship 1976
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Football shirt : Light orange with black accents
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Manufacturer : Adidas
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Achievements : 3rd place
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Special : The Netherlands' first official participation in the European Championship
๐ 1978 World Cup (Argentina)
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Football shirt : Bright orange with black Adidas stripes and V-neck
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Achievements : Final again , lost to Argentina (3-1 after extra time)
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Iconic moment : Dick Nanninga's goal in the final and Mario Kempes' winning free kick
๐ European Championship 1980
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Football shirt : Orange with white and black
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Manufacturer : Adidas
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Achievements : Group stage, no elimination
๐ European Championship 1988 (West Germany)
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Football shirt : Iconic geometric pattern in orange, with white and black accents
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Manufacturer : Adidas
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Achievements : European Champion
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Iconic moments :
- Van Basten's volley in the final against the Soviet Union
- Gullit's header and the captain's armband with dreadlocks
- The victory over West Germany in the semi-final
๐ 1990 World Cup (Italy)
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Football shirt : Similar to 1988, slightly darker orange
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Manufacturer : Adidas
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Achievements : Round of 16, knocked out by Germany
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Criticism : Bad atmosphere in the selection
๐ European Championship 1992 (Sweden)
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Football shirt : Deep orange, classic collar
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Manufacturer : Adidas
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Achievements : Semi-final, eliminated by Denmark (penalties)
๐ 1994 World Cup (US)
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Football shirt : Orange with geometric print and blue accents
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Manufacturer : Lotto
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Achievements : Quarter-final, knocked out by Brazil
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Special : First World Championship with Lotto as manufacturer
๐ European Championship 1996 (England)
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Football shirt : Deep orange, clean lines
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Manufacturer : Lotto
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Performance : Group stage, dispute within the squad
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Special : Last tournament with Lotto
๐ 1998 World Cup (France)
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Football shirt : Orange with black details, white back numbers
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Manufacturer : Nike (from now on permanent partner)
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Performance : Semi-final, lost to Brazil (penalties)
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Iconic moments : Bergkamp's legendary goal against Argentina
๐ European Championship 2000 (Netherlands & Belgium)
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Football shirt : Sleek design, black details
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Manufacturer : Nike
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Achievements : Semi-final, knocked out by Italy (after penalty drama)
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Special : Missed penalties by De Boer and others
๐ 2006 World Cup (Germany)
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Football shirt : Minimalist orange, sleek design
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Manufacturer : Nike
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Achievements : Round of 16, knocked out by Portugal (the โBattle of Nurembergโ)
๐ European Championship 2008 (Switzerland & Austria)
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Football shirt : Bright orange, retro inspired
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Manufacturer : Nike
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Performance : Quarterfinals, lost to Russia
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Iconic moment : 3-0 win over Italy, 4-1 over France
๐ 2010 World Cup (South Africa)
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Football shirt : Orange with black details, V-neck
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Manufacturer : Nike
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Achievements : Reached final , lost to Spain (1-0, Iniesta in extra time)
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Iconic moments : Sneijder's goals against Brazil, Van Bronckhorst's world-class goal against Uruguay
๐ European Championship 2012
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Football shirt : Darker orange with black
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Manufacturer : Nike
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Performance : Group stage, three defeats
๐ 2014 World Cup (Brazil)
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Football shirt : Bright orange, lion on chest, minimalist
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Manufacturer : Nike
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Achievements : Third place
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Iconic moments :
- Van Persie's "flying header" against Spain
- Penalty shootout against Costa Rica with substitute goalkeeper Krul
๐ European Championship 2020 (played in 2021)
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Football shirt : Orange with black pattern inspired by the Dutch lion
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Manufacturer : Nike
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Achievements : Round of 16, knocked out by Czech Republic
๐ 2022 World Cup (Qatar)
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Football shirt : Golden orange with subtle lion print
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Manufacturer : Nike
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Performance : Quarter-final, eliminated by Argentina (after 2-2, penalties)
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Iconic moment : Weghorst's free-kick goal in the 100th minute
The Influence of Brands and Sponsors
Although the Dutch national team jersey does n't officially feature any commercial sponsors (unlike clubs), the clothing manufacturer is always visible. Here's an overview of manufacturers over the years:
- ๐งต No brand : 1905 โ 1970
- ๐ Adidas : 1970 โ 1990
- ๐ Lotto : 1991 โ 1996
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Nike : 1997 โ present
Nike's long-standing partnership has seen a combination of innovation and nostalgia, with retro elements regularly incorporated into modern shirts.
Conclusion: More than a Shirt
The Dutch national team shirt is an icon in itself. Over the years, it has represented not only a team, but a nation. The color, the design details, and the moments created with it ensure that each new shirt carries a legacyโand a promise of future glory.
