<\/p>\n
Club: Feyenoord Rotterdam | Opening: 1937 | Capacity: 51,177 seats<\/p>\n
De Kuip, officially called Stadion Feijenoord, was built in the 1930s to provide Feyenoord with a new world-class stadium.<\/p>\n
Inspiration for the new stadium came from then club-president Van Zandvliet, whose ambitions for the club involved a new 65,000-stadium.<\/p>\n
While many doubted the viability of his plans, the Rotterdam city council voted in favour and two architects were sent on study trip around Europe. They returned particularly inspired by the newly constructed double-decker stand at Highbury<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The first was the final of the Cup Winners\u2019 Cup in 1963 between Tottenham and Atl\u00e9tico Madrid, the second another Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1968 between Milan and Hamburg, followed by the 1972 European Cup final<\/a> between Ajax and Inter (2-0), and another Cup Winners’Cup final in 1974, this time between Magdeburg and Milan.<\/p>\n
In 2002, the final of the UEFA Cup<\/a> was played at De Kuip, which saw home side Feyenoord beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2.<\/p>\n
De Kuip was chosen to host the final of the Euro 2000<\/a> championships, receiving preference over the newer and slightly bigger Amsterdam ArenA<\/a>. During the tournament, the stadium hosted three group matches, the quarter-final between Holland and Yugoslavia (6-1), and the final between France and Italy (2-1).<\/p>\n
(photos of the present De Kuip below)<\/p>\n
De Kuip is located on the south bank of the river Meuse, just a few hundred metres away from the river, but about 4.5 kilometres from Rotterdam\u2019s city centre and more than 5.5 kilometres from the central rail station.<\/p>\n
If coming by car, the stadium is best reached from the A16 motorway. Take exit 24 Feijenoord (if coming from the north the first after the Van Brienenoord bridge). Follow the Stadionweg west until reaching the stadium.<\/p>\n
If using public transport, take tram<\/a> 23 from Rotterdam\u2019s central rail station. After a 20-minute journey get off at stop Stadion Feijenoord. On matchdays one can also take tram 29.<\/p>\n
An alternative is taking a train to rail<\/a> station Lombardijen, also on the south bank, and continue with tram 2 in the direction of Charlois. After a 6-minute journey get off at either station Beukendaal or Breeplein. The stadium is a further 10-minute walk away. Both trams run at least once every 10 minutes.<\/p>\n