This really IS Rotterdam...

Feyenoord 3-1 Den Haag
Eredivisie
Sunday 11th September 2016

The Dutch champions: Feyenoord, 2016/17.

Dutch giants Feyenoord are undeniably one of the household names in European Football, though in modern times they've endured something of a barren spell.

The Rotterdam-based club have one won Eredivisie title in the past two decades.

It was in the 2016/17 campaign under the stewardship of Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and they played exciting, energetic and fast-flowing football.

Although silverware wasn't guaranteed until after a nerve-jangling final day win over Heracles, they were table-toppers pretty much throughout the season and it was a joy to watch them in what turned out to be the most memorable of seasons.

Dirk Kuyt was their talisman. Brad Jones was the regular goalkeeper. Terence Kongolo, Karim El Ahmadi and Steven Berghuis were also semi-familiar names who frequently featured.

The game I 'picked' to go to was against Feyenoord's little-known local rivals Den Haag. Such is the proximity between the two clubs that the Rotterdam Metro Network actually stretches as far as Den Haag Centraal and travelling time is around 20-25 minutes.

Both teams had 'perfect' records going into this fixture; Feyenoord having won every game, Den Haag having lost every game, so expectation was that the home side would achieve a straightforward three points.

Feyenoord's ground 'De Kuip' is quite well-known, and, speaking from experience, a trip here is one of the best away days that European Football has to offer.

The atmosphere inside the stadium is usually fantastic and there are several videos on YouTube, etc, which prove just that. Feyenoord's fanbase are VERY partisan and loyal so will create a good atmosphere and they also turn out in numbers. The club have also adapted their own version of 'I Will Survive' as goal music which they've used for many years - so much so that it's almost their signature tune nowadays!

The downside to such good support is it can make buying tickets difficult to come by. However, if you check, check, check and check again on their official website for the general sale dates and then 'strike early' the very moment that they go on sale, you should be fine for matches against most teams in the Eredivisie's lower rung.

I'd travelled into Rotterdam on an overnight bus from Cologne, arriving at sunrise - though it's fair to say the sun wasn't rising much as it was a misty, cloudy, gloomy, cold and miserable morning and being half-asleep didn't make my mood any better.

Rotterdam isn't a great city with tons or sights or things to do and, given that Amsterdam, is an hour or so away, it's likely that a lot of folk will end up there.

Nevertheless, there are a few things to see such as the 'Car In The Roof' sculpture between Rotterdam Centraal Station and Weena Fountain (about a five-minute walk between the two), the Cubic Houses which is near a shopping complex, and then you can also chill out by the riverside which offers a different view of the city.

On top of that, this is the Netherlands so there are plenty of pubs/bars, etc, if you prefer to cut out the sightseeing bull sh*t and just head straight for the boozers.

Something which is noticeable throughout Rotterdam is just how many cyclists there are. Literally, HUNDREDS of folk (no exaggeration) will cycle to and from games and you'll no doubt see an endless stream of folk on bicycles passing you by as you make your way to/from the stadium.

In footballing terms, there's three 'major' clubs in Rotterdam.

Feyenoord are the undisputed as the biggest of the three, Sparta Rotterdam are next - they've seen better times, aren't going to bother the top end of the table anytime soon and will usually be around mid-table, then finally there's Excelsior who yo-yo between the top two divisions and play at a really small-capacity ground with huge floodlights.

On the pitch at this game, Feyenoord, as expected, beat Den Haag, 3-1 - and yes, barring the odd scare, it was a pretty straightforward win!

Dirk Kuyt and Nicolai Jorgensen netted in quick succession just after the half-hour mark to put the hosts in a commanding position and though the hosts did reduce arrears, Karim El Ahmadi's strike deep into injury-time put an end to any jitters fans may have had.

Most memorably though was a brilliant gesture from Den Haag's fans early in the game.

Located in the top tier, above the home fans, they pelted their counterparts with soft toys, teddy bears and green and yellow fancy wigs. This was a gesture which ultimately aimed to give kids at the local Children's Hospital in Rotterdam new cuddly toys and gifts, etc, when otherwise they might not get them.

It was absolutely brilliant stuff and there was a lot of media coverage in the aftermath!

So that was Rotterdam. Getting away from De Kuip afterwards was simple enough as there were a stream of trams lined up, ready and waiting to ship us non-cyclists back into the city centre.

I'd happily go back here and the likelihood is that, one day, I probably will do!

The Cubic Houses of Rotterdam - a mix of residential apartments, offices and probably one or two cannabis plants.

The view of Rotterdam from the bridge!

Opposite the cubib houses in the city centre.

A boring afternoon after the football. 

Excelsior Rotterdam's stadium - right next to a tram stop.

My pre-match meal at De Kuip... opted for the healthy choice!

Outside the ground which hosted the Euro 2000 Final.

The cubic houses in all their fascinating glory - and my accommodation for the night!

Den Haag's fans in the ground, all dressed up.

During the game and another full house.

About 45 minutes before kick-off.

Getting ready for the game.

Rotterdam Centraal, just after I arrived. Grey, gloomy and that advert was on constant repeat.

Outside the ground.

One of the more unusual sights in Rotterdam.

Walking across the bridge after the game, being passed by hundreds of cyclists.