Celebration versus silence: Amsterdam Arena’s debut without Ajax

On 14 August 1996 the newly built Arena in Amsterdam opened with a dazzling ceremony, yet Ajax, the city’s football giant, stayed on the sidelines, a contrast that still defines the venue’s legacy thirty years later.

A night of spectacle

Michel AbbinkJournalist reported for VI that the event was hosted by VIMet Trijntje Oosterhuis, with Frank Rijkaard and Dejan Savicevic as the main figures, celebrating the stadium that would be called the Johan Cruijff Arena until 2017.

Eddy Poelmann told the -uitzending, “Around the field the fire is lit everywhere, the Arena is ready,” as the royal family watched Rijkaard light the final torch of a 375‑runner relay that began with Johan Cruijff.

Trijntje Oosterhuis sang the song “De Zee” while the pitch was covered in a sea of blue powder; seventeen symbolic ships represented professional clubs, the largest reserved for Ajax.

The inaugural kickoff was performed by the club’s youngest and oldest members, Leandro Resida and Wim Schoevaart, just as the roof began to rise and referee Mario van der Ende signalled the start of a practice match against AC Milan.

Ajax’s quiet disappointment

AC Milan, playing in a Bayern München‑style mode, refused to join the festivities, fielding a side that included the recently deceased captain Franco Baresi and winning 0‑3.

The first goal in the Arena came from Dejan Savicevic after a mis‑directed header by Danny Blind, yet the atmosphere remained lukewarm during the game.

After the match, Louis van Gaal admitted, “I don’t think we lived up to this opening. We know we are in trouble,” noting that Ajax’s defeat was unsurprising given the many unfit players still in preparation.

Earlier in the pre‑season, Ajax had also lost 2‑0 to Chelsea and Deportivo La Coruña, and suffered a 6‑0 drubbing by Juventus – a replay of the Champions League final – a result highlighted by Van Gaal in a VI interview.

Van Gaal later said, “Hundreds of friendlies have been played in Europe, but CNN gave only one result: Juventus – Ajax 6‑0. It shows the impact of an essentially irrelevant defeat.”

When the stadium lights dimmed, the crowd revived for performances by Rob de Nijs, Marco Borsato and Guus Meeuwis, while the Amsterdammers reflected on a night where the Arena’s brilliance was shadowed by Ajax’s silence.