De Meer Stadion

Games of Ajax Amsterdam
UEFA Super Cup 1972 ( second leg )

The De Meer stadium was the former, club's football stadium and home of the Dutch football club Ajax Amsterdam in Amsterdam's Watergraafsmeer.

History

Built in 1934 it replaced the "Het houten stadion " (Eng.: The wooden stadium) that could not cope with the increasing number of spectators. On 9 December 1934 the company celebrated the opening of the 300,000 guilders expensive venue with the game Ajax Amsterdam vs Stade Français, which Ajax won with 5-1 clear. At that time it had a capacity of 22,000 spectators. Up to 29,500 seats, the capacity increased with time; but was later limited for safety reasons at 19.000. For big European club or league games, the club evaded in the Olympic Stadium Amsterdam. Over time, the venue presented the requirements of Ajax no longer sufficient. Already in the 1980s there were plans in Amsterdam to build a large stadium, which had also been part of the bid to host the Summer Olympic Games in 1992. After the failed bid was built from 1993-1996, the Amsterdam Arena with over 50,000 seats and a closable roof.

The last game for Ajax in De Meer took place against Willem II Tilburg on 28 April 1996. Ajax won the Eredivisie last home game of the season 1995/96 with 5:1 goals. The last goal came from Jack de Gier ( Willem II). After the stadium was torn down; sold the land to the city and built the residential Park de Meer instead. As a reminder of the old venue was one of the streets in the Names of stadiums, Esplanade de Meer, Wembleylaan, Praterlaan, Delle Alpihof, Bernabeuhof, Anfield and Stade de Colombes, where Ajax enjoyed great success. In the area were also twelve bridges to known Ajax players of the early 1970s, Johan Cruyff, Sjaak Swart, Gerrie Mühren, Ruud Krol, Johan Neeskens, Hulshoff Barry, Arie Haan, Wim Suurbier, Piet Keizer, Horst Blankenburg, Velibor Vasović and Heinz Stuy, named.

Matches in De Meer Stadion

The Dutch national football team was five games guest at the De Meer stadium; all of which she won. The first encounter, a qualifier for the FIFA World Cup in 1974, contested the Netherlands against Iceland (5-0 ) on 22 August 1973. The last meeting there was on 25 March 1992 in a friendly match against the team of Yugoslavia, with the a 2-0 ended.

234337