A Dictionary of Dutchness

Oranje

Oranje (the colour orange rather than the fruit which is sinasappel in Dutch) is the nickname given to Dutch national sports teams (most commonly football and hockey) thanks to their orange kit and the colour of the hats, banners and scarves of their supporters. The nickname comes from the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange, founded when Willem I inherited the title from the French noble family. The colour has now become a symbol of Dutch pride.