Former Feyenoord president Jorien van den Herik and former player and manager Jean-Paul Been officially opened a new Cruyff Court in Rotterdam on Monday, March 23, 2026, paying tribute to the late legendary manager and player Leo Beenhakker in the neighborhood where he grew up.
Honoring Leo Beenhakker in Rotterdam-Zuid
The newly unveiled mini-pitch sits in the specific Rotterdam neighborhood where Beenhakker spent his childhood. According to local reports, the initiative is designed to give children a safe, accessible place to play sports while permanently honoring one of Dutch football’s most influential figures. Beenhakker, who passed away recently, enjoyed a storied managerial career that included multiple stints at Feyenoord and Ajax, alongside leading the Netherlands national team.
Jorien van den Herik, who worked closely with Beenhakker during their shared years at De Kuip, reflected on the emotional significance of the project. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Van den Herik noted that a neighborhood pitch dedicated to football development would have deeply pleased the veteran coach, who was universally known in Dutch football circles as ‘Don Leo’. Jean-Paul Been, another stalwart of Feyenoord’s modern history, joined the ribbon-cutting proceedings to welcome local youth to the facility.
The Legacy of Cruyff Courts in Urban Neighborhoods
The Johan Cruyff Foundation installs these specialized synthetic pitches across urban areas worldwide to combat sedentary lifestyles and foster community cohesion through sport. By placing a court directly into Beenhakker’s childhood stomping grounds, the project connects the grassroots philosophy of Johan Cruyff with the enduring legacy of Beenhakker, who began his own journey in the very same streets of Rotterdam.
Local youth organizations and municipal representatives attended Monday’s inauguration event, staging exhibition matches on the fresh turf immediately after the official opening ceremony. For residents of the district, the court provides a permanent recreational anchor named after a local son who reached the absolute summit of international football management.
Next Steps for the Facility
The Rotterdam municipality confirmed that local community sports coaches will run scheduled afternoon clinics and neighborhood tournaments at the new venue starting next month. Families and young athletes in the area can access the pitch daily free of charge, fulfilling the core mission of the Cruyff Foundation’s urban initiative.
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