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Andre Hazes was the most famous of Dutch folk singers. His songs were loved by most people in the Netherlands, and when he died, his funeral was held in Amsterdam's soccer stadium and the ceremony was televised on many Dutch TV channels (yes, that many people wanted to be there). He had always sung about “his” Amsterdam – where he used to live –, his life, and his country, and he put a lot of emotion into his work, so it was hard to dislike his songs.

"Andre Hazes was the most famous of Dutch folk singers and his songs were loved by most people in the Netherlands."

“Wij houden van Oranje” is about the Dutch national soccer team. The color “orange” is related to Dutch royalty, specifically to William of Orange, who led the Netherland’s war of independence against Spain during the 1500s, and founded of the House of Orange-Nassau, which eventually established the Dutch monarchy in 1815. This is why the Dutch have four national colors: the red, white, and blue from the national flag, and orange, from the kings and queens. The song is a tribute to the Dutch soccer team, written in the context of the 1988 Euro Cup, which the Netherlands ended up winning.

All the words support the Dutch national team: “Samen zijn we sterk” (Together we are strong). The song is usually sung by supporters to give players an extra boost when they’re on the field. “Nederland oh Nederland, jij bent een kampioen” (Holland oh Holland, you’re a champion). Also, the lyrics look forward to actually winning championships. The line “Straks als het rood wit blauw, voor ons wordt gehesen” (Later, when the red white and blue is going up) references the fact that the winners’ flags are raised at the end, while another line, “Dan zijn wij een groot gezin” (Then we are one big family) refers to the solidarity built between fans of sports.

"Since the 80s, the song has been played in almost every sporting event in which the Dutch participate, whether it be soccer, hockey, or ice-skating."

Of course, there’s a reference to the national anthem, which we hear from the supporters at the stadium: “Van de tribune, klinkt het Wilhelmus” (From the stands, we hear the Wilhelmus). The Wilhelmus is the name of the Dutch national anthem, and it refers to William of Orange.

Since the 80s, the song has been played in almost every sporting event in which the Dutch participate, whether it be soccer, hockey, or ice-skating. It always brings up emotions, solidarity, and love for the team. In 2006, a new version of the song was made, this time by Dutch rapper Ali B. The song was popular during the 2006 World Cup, but lost popularity right away when the Dutch soccer team lost against Portugal. Hazes’s song, however, will never fade.