- Address: Olympisch Stadion 21, Amsterdam
- Country: Netherlands
- Capacity: 22,000
- Opened: 17 May 1928
- Main use: Football
- Tenants:
Extra stadium info – Olympisch Stadion
The construction of the stadium started in 1927. It is known as a venue for several events, like American football, athletics, concerts, football and ice skating. The Olympisch Stadion is also known as a venue for the start and finish of the Amsterdam Marathon. Ajax and DWS (Door Wilskracht Sterk) used the stadium for home games. Ajax won various domestic and international trophies. DWS won the Dutch top-flight football league in 1964 for the first time in their history. They finished above PSV from Eindhoven in that league season. Several former sports clubs used the Olympisch Stadion for home matches. The Amsterdam Admirals, a former American football club, used the venue for home games in the 1990s.
The Games of the Olympiad and the European Cup final
The stadium was the main venue for the Games of the Olympiad in 1928. In 1962, the stadium hosted the prestigious European Cup final, which was won by the Portuguese side SL Benfica after defeating the Spanish side Real Madrid CF 5-3. 61,000 spectators showed up for the game. Benfica won their second European championship title after beating Real Madrid. They won their first European championship title after defeating FC Barcelona in 1961.
Johan Cruijff
In 1978, the Olympisch Stadion hosted a farewell match for the Dutch football legend Johan Cruijff, which was won by the German side FC Bayern München after defeating Cruijff’s club AFC Ajax 8-0. Cruijff played for Ajax, FC Barcelona, the Los Angeles Aztecs, the Washington Diplomats and Levante before he returned to Ajax. He ended his professional football career with Feyenoord, the rivals of Ajax. Johan Cruijff signed with Feyenoord after Ajax refused to offer him a new contract. In his last Dutch top-flight league season with Feyenoord, he won the Dutch football championship and the national cup tournament.