Alongside Johan Cruijff, visitors can now also admire the portrait of Sjaak Swart. 'Mister Ajax' was, of course, present at the official presentation. The same applied to Daphne Koster, a leading figure of the Ajax Women’s team, who has also been given a place in the gallery of icons.
The street art piece was designed by Amsterdam-based artists Floor Wesseling and Virgil Sana. It brings together 27 icons who are inextricably linked to the soul of the city, the Arena, Ajax and Amsterdam Zuidoost.
All featured icons
A full overview of all the icons included in the artwork: Johan Cruijff, Anne Frank, Pa Sem, André Hazes, Annie M.G. Schmidt, Eberhard van der Laan, René Froger and his father Bolle Jan, Sjaak Swart, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Patricia Keeldar, Marco van Basten, Major Bosshardt, Louis van Gaal, Tina Turner (as the artist who performed the first concert in the Arena), Jari Litmanen, Johnny Jordaan and Tante Leen, Daphne Koster, Harry Styles, Worthy de Jong, Frank Rijkaard, Aletta Jacobs, Ramses Shaffy, Meester Kwame, Piet Keizer and Siem de Jong.
The selection of icons was partly determined through votes by Amsterdammers, Ajax supporters and residents of Zuidoost. The portraits were created with the consent of those depicted, their families and/or representatives.
A visual tribute to the city
The artwork spans the entire main entrance and forms a complete experience in which pillars, walls and ceiling come together. Portraits are distributed across the pillars, collectively telling the story of a city in motion, shaped by people from different eras and backgrounds.
On the western side, the focus is on Ajax icons. An abstract map of Amsterdam has been applied to the ceiling, with lines connecting the city and its districts. Red-and-white elements and large lamps in the shape of Saint Andrew’s crosses enhance the character of the space and quite literally place visitors in the spotlight.
