Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende wants to scrap the gedogen (tolerance) culture fostered by the last regime and the leading gedogen bogeymen are cannabis coffeeshops, violent street crime and (illegal) immigrants.

But as the 2002-2003 soccer season kicked off in mid August, the antics of Dutch hooligans captured all the media limelight.

A turbulent season kick-off

A game between two of the top football clubs — Ajax (Amsterdam) and PSV (Eindhoven) — was delayed for over an hour as PSV supporters blocked the team bus from leaving for Amsterdam on time.

Dutch football association KNVB chief Henk Kesler reacted furiously, saying compensation would be sought from PSV.

"Either Eindhoven approved of the protest or did not have the will to act against it. Both positions are reprehensible," he said. PSV chairman Harry van Raaij denied the accusation, saying the protest had been initially good-humoured.

But a hooligan decided to send Kesler a threatening letter and bullets in the post. Guus Hiddink, PSV's manager and former coach of South Korea's World Cup side, also received a bullet and death threat.

Earlier this year, Former Dutch international and current coach of Sparta Rotterdam, Frank Rijkaard received a similar threat.

How bad is the problem?

Hooligan supporters of the 18 clubs in the top division and other minor teams have orchestrated a number of riots and fights at football stadiums around the country in recent years. Back in 1997 an Ajax supporter was killed during a fight between Ajax and Rotterdam supporters.

 1 2 3 Next >