Ajax Amsterdam : NAC Breda

After strengthening themselves with a breakfast in Fürth, and being assigned by the landlord to the province of Vorarlberg (sorry dear Vorarlbergers, but for an Upper Austrian this is and remains an insult *g*), we set off for the neighboring Netherlands. The trip went extremely smoothly. Especially the highways in Holland tempt you to switch off your brain while driving. 5 lanes and always straight ahead at the prescribed speed 120 - at night even lit throughout - because you virtually glide through the (flat) country.

To escape the horrendous parking prices in Amsterdam parked on one of the numerous Park & Ride parking lots in front of the city. A really super affair. The price also includes a ticket for the subway / streetcar whereby we found without difficulty to our hotel. That the cost savings is not the only positive effect of parking away from home, we noticed immediately. As a car driver in Amsterdam you are, so to speak, the last in the "food chain". Cyclists buzz around as they want, pedestrians ignore red lights, and moped drivers are apparently allowed to use everything anyway (including the bike path). Sogesehen a very good decision...

Despite the fast ride 'gen north remained us not much time to be in time for kickoff in the stadium. So quickly checked on the Internet the travel options and off we went. First we went to the train station to get a 3-day ticket for the public transport. Since recently, there is the "OV Chipkaard", which is similar to the already known to us Oyster Card from London. Since not all stops have been converted yet, however, people are not yet checking in and out as diligently as will ultimately be necessary. So a Dutch announcement reminds each stadium of the card's terms of use. My Dutch is unfortunately not enough to reflect this announcement here exactly - but had at least with us a similar cult factor as the "Mind The Gap" announcements in London.

The journey to the Amsterdam Arena then ultimately turned out to be completely unproblematic. A line leads on direct way from the station to the arena. Since our seats were in the rear part of the arena, we left the Metro already one station before the arena, whereby we did not get to see the front view of the stadium - and also a fan store orgl. was not to be found there. A few snack stalls then but still testified to a stadium ;-)

In Holland it is consistently common that for some games tickets can only be purchased if you are in possession of a Fancard. This game was also such a one - why we came legally via the Internet store of Ajax without this Fancard to cards, no one knows - but we should not care. At the cash registers controlled this anyway none - only a look under my cap wanted to throw the Securities then nevertheless still.

In the stadium itself one can buy the drinks and snacks only by means of chip cards, which one can acquire at various counters - a system that me already from Germany quite positively in memory is, reduces it nevertheless the waiting times substantially. A positivier effect at the beverage conditions are the prices, which are to be described for Amsterdam conditions rather as favorable. Also the taste of the "Grolsch" knew to convince.

The game itself was firmly in Ajax's hands from the start. Two goals worth seeing in half time one and a direct free kick in half time two ensured clear conditions. The fans have rather British character - is called there is no continuous support, ifs then but times loud, almost all are there. A few pyro deployments in the two opposite corners (both populated by Ajax fans) then brought some Austrian flair to the Dutch league *g*.

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