DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

6 August 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

A good night for the Dutch: four clubs in Europe, two players of the year

August 30, 2019
Virgil Van Dijk with his awards. Photo by Pascal Della Zuana/Icon Sport via HH
Virgil Van Dijk with his awards. Photo by Pascal Della Zuana/Icon Sport via HH

Oranje captain Virgil van Dijk has been voted player of the year by the European football association Uefa.

Van Dijk, who took the Champions League and Supercup titles last season with Liverpool, saw off Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo to win the award, which was made during the draw for the Champions League groups in Monaco.

Van Dijk, also nominated for Fifa’s player of the year award, was named best defender of the season as well.

Young Dutchman Frenkie de Jong, who swapped Ajax for Barcelona this summer, took the award for best midfielder. Messi was named best forward.

Meanwhile, wins by AZ of Alkmaar, Rotterdam’s Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven mean there will be four clubs playing in Europe this season, following on from Ajax’ win on Wednesday.

AZ, Feyenoord and PSV will all take part in the Europa League group stages, having battled through several qualifying rounds.

Champions League contender Ajax will meet Chelsea, Valencia and Lille in group H of Europe’s premier competition. Ajax were semi-finalists last year.

The first matches will be played on September 17 and 18, when Ajax will meet Lille at home. The Amsterdammers will meet Valencia away on October 2 and Chelsea at home on October 23.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Sport
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch mortgage lending rebounds as households borrow more
The Netherlands pledges €500 million in Ukraine military support
Dry, sunny spell from Wednesday to last well into August
NL has a legal duty to prevent genocide, gov't committee says
Dutch expats abroad have until September 17 to register to vote
NewsHomeEconomyPoliticsArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now