Why the Netherlands play in an orange kit despite it not being a colour on their flag

The flag of the Netherlands is red, white and blue, so why for the Dutch play in an orange kit?

The Netherlands have reached the semi-finals of Euro 2024 without setting the tournament alight – much like England – but there is no denying that they are one of the most iconic teams in international football history.

Dutch football has given the world legendary players like Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, as well as the ‘Total Football’ playing style that inspired innumerable coaches including Pep Guardiola.

The Netherlands – coached by legendary player Ronald Koeman – will take on England in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 on Wednesday, with either France or Spain waiting in the final.

Koeman’s side snuck into the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed sides after finishing behind Austria and France in Group D and ahead of Poland.

They won just one of their group games before beating Romania 3-0 in the round-of-16 and seeing off Turkey 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

When the Netherlands take to the field against England in Dortmund, they will do so wearing their iconic orange. But if there is no orange in the Dutch flag, why is their kit that colour?

The Netherlands’ kit and crest are orange because it’s the colour of the House of Orange-Nassau – the Dutch royal family.

‘Prince of Orange’ is seen as a compliment in the country. They aren’t the only sports team to wear orange.

The Netherlands’ hockey and rugby teams do so too, along with a number of other sports teams, while the football team’s nickname is ‘Oranje’.

Media outlets in the country have also referred to the team as the ‘Clockwork Orange’.

In the years after the country earned independence from Spanish rule, the national flag was actually originally blue, white and orange.

The Netherlands are not the only team that wears a kit that differs from their flag. Germany’s iconic white kit stands in stark contrast to the red, black and yellow that adorns their national flag.

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