Willem II

Willem II are one of Dutch football's most distinguished provincial clubs, a Tilburg institution founded in 1896 and named in honour of King Willem II of the Netherlands. The red, white, and blue vertical stripes of their home shirt, mirroring the Dutch national flag, make them one of the most patriotic-looking clubs in European football. Three-time Eredivisie champions, in 1916, 1952, and 1955, and twice winners of the KNVB Cup, Willem II have a proud history that also includes a remarkable UEFA Cup run to the semi-finals in the 1999 to 2000 season. Founded in 1896, Willem II are based in Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands. They compete in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football, having been relegated from the Eredivisie in 2024 to 2025. They play at the Koning Willem II Stadion. Major honours include the Eredivisie in 1916, 1952, and 1955, and the KNVB Cup in 1944 and 1963. Their home colours are red, white, and blue vertical stripes. The red, white, and blue vertical stripes of Willem II are among the most distinctive in Dutch football, a direct echo of the Netherlands national flag that gives the Tilburg club an instantly recognisable visual identity. The stripes have remained largely consistent throughout the club's history, a rare example of kit continuity in an era of constant reinvention. The kits worn during the remarkable 1999 to 2000 UEFA Cup run, when Willem II reached the semi-finals and beat clubs far above their expected level, are the most celebrated in recent shirt history. Various manufacturers including Nike have produced versions of the tricolor stripe over the decades, each keeping faith with the colours that define this proud Dutch club.