Last night he was playing in a packed Johan Cruijff ArenA, and today he returned to the place where he spent countless hours as a kid. Surrounded by hundreds of enthusiastic young people, Frenkie de Jong opened his own Cruyff Court in Gorinchem. It is a vibrant and accessible sports space where children can play, move and connect!
‘I’m standing here feeling incredibly happy and proud. I learned so much playing on the streets and outdoor pitches, so having a place where children and young people can play really matters. It’s an honour to open this Cruyff Court, and fantastic to see so many people here,’ said Frenkie de Jong during the opening.
Talent of the Year
Frenkie de Jong proved his talent long ago, and in 2019 he was recognised with the Johan Cruijff Prize for Talent of the Year in the Eredivisie. With this award, Johan Cruyff aimed to support young footballers on their path to a bright future and inspire them to give something back to society. As part of this philosophy, this Cruyff Court is named after him. A place where children and young people can get active and grow physically, socially and mentally.
Multifunctional Cruyff Court as a central meeting place
There is still much to gain from sport, as children and young people in the Netherlands continue to exercise too little. In the 12 to 17 age group, 56.9% (2024) do not meet the national exercise guidelines. Gorinchem faces the same challenge, which makes the Cruyff Court at the i_campus so valuable. The area brings together seven schools, including a technical college and a special needs school, a joint innovative learning environment (the i_lab), a mosque and a sports hall.
At the request of young people and local residents, a 3x3 basketball court, calisthenics area and teqball table have been added alongside the Cruyff Court. Together, they create a lively sporting space where education, the neighbourhood and sport strengthen each other every day.
Alderman Attie Mager said: ‘It’s fantastic to see how local residents and students from the i_campus helped shape the design. As a result, the Cruyff Court truly meets the needs of children and young people. This is a meeting place created by and for the neighbourhood, and today we are celebrating that together.’
Heroes: role models for the neighbourhood
The construction of the Cruyff Court is just the beginning. Teachers will use the pitch during lessons, and after school neighbourhood sports coaches from the Municipality of Gorinchem (Gorinchem Beweegt), youth workers from The Mall Gorinchem and Stichting Boukie organise sport activities for local young people. Over recent weeks, several youth professionals have been trained as Cruyff Foundation Coaches and have worked with young people on Heroes of the Cruyff Courts. This project encourages young people to be role models in their neighbourhood, develop new skills and stay engaged with both the community and the Cruyff Court.
During the opening, these Heroes received their certificates from Frenkie de Jong. Eddie (14) said: ‘It was a very special day for us as Heroes. We received a certificate from none other than Frenkie de Jong. I’m extremely proud!’
Partners
This Cruyff Court was made possible by the Municipality of Gorinchem, the Cruyff Foundation and the VriendenLoterij. Partners Speelplan, KSP Groep, Strago and Nijha played an important role in bringing the Cruyff Court to life.
