Take in the best entertainment Willem II has to offer

Founded in 1896 in Tilburg, Willem II football club was one of the first teams to be established in the Netherlands. It was created by the young Gerard de Ruiter, who was only twenty years old at the time. Football wasn’t yet very well known in the country, and Ruiter simply gathered some friends who would become the first players for the team. Originally named Tilburgia, the team was renamed two years after its foundation in honour of King Willem II. The team joined the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (KNVB), the Dutch Football Association, in 1906, winning the championship a decade later as the first southern team to do so. They were champions again in 1953 and by the new millennium played in the Eredivisie, the top division of Dutch football. Check for yourself what they’re made of now – buy Willem II tickets here on StubHub, or list your tickets for sale.

A journey through the years

Just like many old and traditional Dutch teams, Willem II has experienced many ups and downs in its history. The team has alternated playing in both the Eredivisie and the Eereste Divisie, the second-tier league. They’ve also experienced their share of financial troubles and fear of bankruptcy, but ultimately came out victorious and remain an important name in Dutch football. Willem II were national champions in the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (KNVB) Cup in 1916, 1952 and 1955. They also won the Eredivisie title in 1958, 1965 and 2014, as well as the Silver Ball championship in 1916, 1917 and 1921. Other notable appearances include participating in the European championship. Their rivals include NAC Breda and RKC Waalwijk, both important and renowned southern teams. The club struggled in the early 2000s, being relegated to the second division for the first time in twenty years. But in 2017 they won the KVNB semi-finals against much-feared Feyenoord. Watch them make their comeback with Willem II tickets!

An established legacy

Since their early years, Willem II have been making a name for themselves as a team with an expert eye for talent. Many renowned players, several of whom went on to play for the Dutch National Team, can trace their humble beginnings back to the club, including Martin Van Geel, Bud Brocken, Johan Havermans, Marc Overmars, Jean-Paul van Gastel and Jaap Stam. Their headquarters is the Koning Willem II Stadion in Tilburg. Make sure you wear their colours – red, white and blue – when you watch them play! Buy Willem II tickets in advance from StubHub to get the best deals and seats in the house.