The Stands of... sc Heerenveen
The supporters and the stadiums add color to the Eredivisie. For many fans, the stadium has become their second home. Whether the sun is shining or it's raining, in good times and bad, hundreds of thousands of supporters gather on the stands every week to cheer for their favorite club. Along with the clubs, players, and staff, they are all part of Our Football. This season, we're taking a tour of the eighteen fields with a few photographers. This week, the photos are from sc Heerenveen.
More than 100 years ago, on July 20, 1920, sc Heerenveen was founded. After decades in the Eerste Divisie, the Frisian club achieved promotion to the Eredivisie for the first time in 1991 and has been active at the highest level continuously since 1994. The new Abe Lenstra Stadium marked a glorious period with European football and the emergence of numerous talents who gained fame, including Jon Dahl Tomasson, Ruud van Nistelrooij, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Danijel Pranjić, Georgios Samaras, Afonso Alves, and many others.
While players came and went, the traditions in Heerenveen have always remained intact. Before each match, the Frysk Folksliet (Frisian national anthem) is played live, mascot Heero (the oldest mascot in the Netherlands) gives young fans a weekly high five, and supporters have faithfully occupied the stands for many years.
Below, you'll find a selection of stadium and culture photos from the stands. These photos were captured by photographer Melvin Winkeler during the match between sc Heerenveen and N.E.C. Nijmegen on October 7, 2023.
