This page allows you to post general comments, reactions and questions about Simon Kuper's book Ajax, de Joden, Nederland as published on Ajax USA. Scroll to the bottom to post your own comments and questions.

-- Ajax USA (webmaster@ajax-usa.com), August 31, 2000

Answers

Response to General Comments about Ajax, de Joden, Nederland

I really enjoyed Mr. Kuper's book "Football against the enemy" so I am really looking forward to reading his book on Ajax. My son has trained me to be an Ajax fan.

-- Doug Bickel (worldcup@virtualhosts.net), September 03, 2000.

Response to General Comments about Ajax, de Joden, Nederland

Thanks All Round!!!

Thanks to Simon Kuper for letting it be translated and published here. Thanks to Menno for translation. Thanks to Ajax USA (Jim) for putting it on the net.

Cheers,

Rudy

-- Rudy Hulsman (rudy.hulsman@tricon-yum.com), September 08, 2000.

Response to General Comments about Ajax, de Joden, Nederland

As A big Ajax fan and a person interested in history, I have enjoyed the book very much. Thanks for making this possible. Best Regards Dave Shelton

-- Dave Shelton (dmppc-raleigh@att.net), October 22, 2000.

Many thanks to Simon Kuper, to Jim , and to Menno. As a relatively recent AJAX fan(1980's)and one who speaks only a few words of Dutch, I am largely ignorant of the history of AJAX. Reading this wonderful work has made me not only aware of an important part of our club's history ,it has made me thirsty for more knowledge. Thanks again.

-- Ben Bell (Q4Crew@Aol.com), November 09, 2000.

well, I must say the book is starting to get a bit boring. Is this about Ajax or just about the people from the Jewish quarter? When do we get to the 70's, 80's and 90's? I never read the book in Dutch by the way. Probably never will too. I like the fact that it discusses the Jewish history but I think the point has come across now. Time to get to the current situation wich is something I can relate to a lot more. I'm still quite young you know?

-- mike (mike_afca@hotmail.com), November 13, 2000.

Football Against the Enemy is one of the best football books I've read in many years, so I looked forward to this with great enthusiasm. I'm not surprised that my expectations have been well met. Mr. Kuper writes about Amsterdam's Jewish population with intelligence and sensitivity and, no shock here, he knows his football, too. As someone who has written extensively on Jewish matters, I will recommend this book -- please get him an American publisher!!! -- with pleasure to friends and colleagues -- even the ones who call football soccer!

-- George Robinson (GRComm@concentric.net), November 16, 2000.

Well, the 'yew'yells by other club's fans... for me it's normal. For all I know, it has always been like that, but that's probably something that has to do with being young. Anyway, the way I see it Jews can be offended by these chants, but anyone that is looking for real anti-semite motives behind these chants is a fool. It's all part of the game, the rivalry although I understand that it's horrible for people that actually experienced the holocaust. Still, it will never stop. And it can't be stopped... just like hooliganism and all those other assets of nowadays football-culture. Always new youngsters joining the various sides... always new younsters picking up the ways of the sides. Still, there are enough people who know that it's not always appropriate to yell these things... but 'JOOODUUUUUUUUUUUHHHH!' (jews) remains Ajax' supporters' number one battle-cry.

-- Mike (mike_afca@hotmail.com), November 30, 2000.

Very interesting. If u want to translate it in french, feel free to ask me. Long live ajax. joden!

-- malevitch mike (supernovamike@yahoo.com), December 02, 2000.

The Ajax board should realize that there's a difference between 'how it is' and 'how you would want it to be'. I can imagine that they feel unhappy about the chants and the whole Jews thing of the F-Side. I can imagine that they would rather see it stop, and I can imagine they're trying to make it stop.

But in their attempts to make it stop, they decided to act as if it's all coming from nowhere - as if the F-Side might as well have adopted the name 'lions', 'tigers', 'Apaches', 'Catholics' or 'Buddhists' instead. But we're no children, who believe in fairy tales without asking questions. The 'Amsterdam Before The War' chapters make clear that there's a historical explanation for the whole thing. It's okay if the board regrets that, but they shouldn't deny it.

I think that denial, that apparent embarassment of the board, might be exactly as insulting to Jews as the F-Side yells.

-- Menno (menno@ajax-usa.com), December 12, 2000.

Here's a new member for Ajax USA. I get about one of these a week. They're easily deleted.

Name: jasser arafat
Town: jeruzalem
Email: ajax@ fucking jews.kill
Comment:
jongenssssss, waar is mijn fietssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
sponsored by shell lpg

-- Jim (adjmcg@yahoo.com), December 18, 2000.

Thank you so much for this book. First, let me say that "Ik ben een Amerikanse jood en een Ajax supporter." From the first time I saw De Ajax Ster, I have haphazardly looked for published connections between Ajax and the Jews for about two years, and Kuper's book really fits the bill. You wouldn't know there was a connection at all by going through the Ajax Museum at the ArenA. My only other source to date was an article in Ajax Life Magazine from 1997, aside from some fanartikelen with F-Side imagery that I found in the Bijlmer shopping area. I'm also anxious to see the new film...I hope someone adds some English subtitles and puts it on video for American distribution.

I do research on sport symbols (I recently had an editorial opinion piece printed in the local paper about the use of Native American nicknames and logos in U.S. sport), and this book will help my work enormously. I hope to eventually write a scholarly paper on Jewish and anti-Semitic symbolism in Dutch voetbalvandalisme (hooliganism), and I also hope to write a paper on the phenomenon of the "Jewish Team", e.g. Ajax, Tottenham Hotspur, A.S. Roma, Inter Milan, and River Plate. I'll probably look at the relationship between Jews and American baseball teams as part of the analysis, but that particular aspect has already been well-researched.

Anyway, this is a great thing, this book.

Dankuwel!!!!!

-- Martin Lewison (MLewison@utk.edu), December 28, 2000.

Martin, did you know that Germany has its Jewish team as well? Stuttgarter Kickers - the smaller Stuttgart team; VfB Stuttgart is the big one - are called a Jews' club, too. I don't know to what extent their reputation is based on facts or whatever.

Interesting stuff. Keep us posted.

-- Menno (menno@ajax-usa.com), January 07, 2001.

Having read the English translations of Kuper's book, in which my books on the history of Ajax were quoted a number of times, I think Kuper is a bit unkind to me, more or less suggesting I somehow play down the horrors of the Jews in Amsterdam. This, of course, I do not. Writing books on the history of Ajax, and not a demography of Jewish Amsterdam, I interviewed a fair number of people concerning the war years. None of them could mention any Jewish members who died during the war; all I was told were a few names of members who were sent to concentration camps, but fortunately happened to be among the survivors. As Kuper himself also found, club magazines and other sources from immediately after the war make no mention of the casualties, and there was no commemoration plaque at the Ajax stadium (and there is still isn't). The main story is the one about Eddy Hamel, which, as Kuper, mentions, didn't come to light until 1998, and was not known of when I wrote the book Kuper refers to, from 1995. In the updated edition of 2000, I do refer to it. Hamel's fate in itself does not contradict my statement that to my (and many people's) knowledge no Ajax members perished during the war. As Kuper states in his story, Hamel was trainer tot a different club in the late thirties. At the time a trainer for one club could not also be a member of another club, which means Hamel must have had to relinquish his Ajax membership, probably sometime in the mid-thirties, and aparrently was no longer in close contact with his old club. The reason I did not make mention of the 1941-42 annual report is that its existance was unknown to me at the time of the book. The only type-written copy of it appeared to be in the Ajax archives, apparently unknown tot he Ajax archivist Mr Schoevaart, as I did inquire about annual report from this and earlier periods. It resurfaced, however, when Ajax moved to the new stadium in 1996, and part of the historical files were given to the town archives, which is where Susan Smit found them (as I later did). They are just small corrections to Kupers otherwise excellent, though slightly long-winded story. Strangely enough Simon was so caught up in his research, that he didn't think of simply phoning me. I live in Amsterdam and would have gladly treated him to lunch, explaining my point of view. But my invitation sti

-- Evert Vermeer (evert.vermeer@wxs.nl), May 25, 2001.

The F-side (the best side), did not began (good english??) calling themselves Jews. Other dutch sides did. The F-side just adopted that name as their nickname. If any Jew feels offended, I am sorry for that (really), but you should not feel offended. I is just a nickname. You should be glad that it is our nickname instead of the feyenoords nickname ;)

And for that fnoordfan: fuck you. This site is meant for American Ajacieden who want to learn more about their club. That they are expected to hate fnoord I could them, we do not need you for that.

Mazzel

-- Just a Ajacied (ajax@hotmail.com), June 03, 2001.

surfing the net I ran into my own sir-name, Swaap.I don't know too much about my family other then my granddad use to be a dentist at the Scheldestreet in Amsterdam, his name was Samuel.BOth my grandparents survived the war, but died not long after it.My dad still got his memorie 'blocked', so it's nice to be able to actually read somethings about my fam, and what they did.Mister Swaap had a sigarette store, do u perhaps know more about his family?? All I know is that everybody named Swaap in Holland was family, and die to find out much more about my 'anchestors'! Yours truely, Ludo Swaap

-- L. Swaap (sb123400@wolmail.nl), July 07, 2001.

Thank you for sharing your view with us, Mr Vermeer. We appreciate your visit to Ajax USA.

I am replying to your explanation, because I still have a few critical questions to ask. I hope you are willing to answer them.

Let me make one thing clear before I start: it is NOT my intention to accuse you of playing down the horrors of the Amsterdam Jews during World War II. And I'm sure Mr Kuper did not have that intention, either. What I do 'accuse' you of, however, is having omitted some obvious Jewish aspects from Ajax' club history: the Jewish fanbase of Ajax as Kuper describes it in chapter 1 is completely denied by you in the quote from Het Parool, which opens the chapter. So, who's wrong here? Did you deny the Ajax-minded Jews of Amsterdam Kuper describes in the chapter, or is the description Kuper provides historically incorrect? These two are the only options.

I also 'accuse' you of a complete lack of criticism towards Ajax in your books. I will explain what I mean by this by summing up a few examples.

I am not blaming you for writing that no Ajax members died in nazi concentration camps during World War II. But I do find it odd that you are so easy on Ajax in the event of putting up the 'Access Denied for Jews' signs at the entrance of De Meer. You write that Ajax hated having to put them there, but what about the option of *refusing* to put them there? Apparently, Ajax decided not to refuse, but to do as they were told.

I know: most peole did as they were told, so I guess that's human. And I don't want to blame Ajax for being 'human'. But that attitude - doing as they were told - seemed to be Ajax' standard choice. In your books, you could easily (and should) have given that more emphasis: Ajax had several opportunities to stand up for their human principles, but they decided *not* to do it.

Examples? For starters: Ajax could, for example, have decided not to play during the February Strike of 1941. That strike was a reaction to the first 'razzias' of Jews in the city center. Many Jewish Ajax fans (keep in mind that not all of them were actually members) were taken away - never to return. The whole of Amsterdam refused to work, but Ajax decided not to cancel the home games against VSV (16 February) and Xerxes (23 February).

Secondly, Ajax could have denied the Germans access to De Meer, as they were billeted there. Again, they decided not to be the obstructor. The Germans stayed at De Meer for a while - and a team of Ajax veterans played a game against them.

Ajax was not 'wrong', but it's a fair conclusion that they were definitely not too brave, either. They just wanted things to stay normal and decided not to gove the Germans too much of a hard time. Again: that seems to be human, so no need to be ashamed.

But why are you trying to make it look as if Ajax was a bastion of small-scale resistance? You describe it as some kind of heroic deed of treasurer, Wim Volkers, to ask the German troops to pay some while they were billeted on Ajax. Why do you write with so much emphasis that the Ajax members sometimes stole potatoes and pit-coal from the German supplies at De Meer?

That's where it starts to be annoying and, yes, hypocrite.

Ajax obviously chose for a policy of doing as they were told. Didn't you consider it your duty as a historian to write that down in your book? I think it is. But instead, you keep circling around the painful conclusion that it was more important to Ajax to stay out of trouble, than to stand up for their human principles.

It annoys me that you write about the stealing a few potatoes from the German food supplies as if it's of the same historic relevance as Ajax putting up the "Access Denied for Jews".

You were writing your books 'for' Ajax, I assume, and I have the feeling that that's where the problem starts. You were not independent as a historian. You were supposed to make Ajax look good in their centennial book.

Fanatical F-Side keep shouting Ajax is a Jewish club. Which is incorrect, and therefore slightly odd. But it's equally odd to hear the Ajax board shout equally loud that Ajax is *not* a Jewish club. On behalf of them, you told half the story. Mr Kuper provided the missing half. Thanks to your as well as Mr Kuper's book, *we* (the readers) have the full picture.

-- Menno (menno@ajax-usa.com), July 18, 2001.

Dear Menno (if I may be so bold as to call you by your first name),

Thanks for your reaction to my comments concerning Mr Kuper's book. Generally positive criticism, so I won't take any offense (even though you do, in your enthusiasm, call me a hypocrite at one point). Nevertheless, I will try to clarify some of my viewpoints.

First of all: both you and Mr Kuper seem to assume that I wrote my books FOR Ajax. This is not the case. No-one Ajax have had any influence in the publication or editing of the book in any way, and in fact have not been involved until the money for the use of the logo had to be discussed. Also, you seem to judge my book as if it’s supposed the definitive history of the club. Far be it from me to stake such a claim. Any historical subject may have several truths. The reason I originally wrote the book in 1990 (and updated it twice since then) was simply that at the time there was no book on Ajax' history at all, and I though the club deserved at least some work of reference containing information on the players and the matches they played. This in itself took years to complete, but in order to stop it from becoming a soccer version of the telephone directory, I wrote a general outline of the club's adventures in that season. So, although I’m fairly confident where reliability is concerned, I’m always open to improvements.

As to the occupation years: if there's one thing I have learned while discussing that period, it is that we are talking slippery territory. As you yourself state, people are generally not heroes. I think it would be safe to say that out of a hundred people only one or two would be genuine heroes, only one or two would have truly sympathized with the nazis, and the rest hover somewhere in between in all varieties of human character. Also, we have to bear in mind that during the first year of the occupation, it certainly seemed as if the Germans were in Holland to stay for, at least, quite a while. German policy at the time was not to antagonize the Dutch population, whom, after all, they saw as their Germanic brothers. Therefore, the atmosphere was still relatively relaxed compared to later years. Considering this, it is hardly surprising that most of the population decided to keep a low profile get on with their lives. To say that Ajax should have denied the Germans access to the stadium, however, would be rather naive. Oddly enough, the Germans would neatly pay rent for the buildings they requisitioned, even for the school building where the hated Sicherheits Dienst (SD) were housed. This explains why the German commander of the platoon housed at the Ajax stadium was only too happy to pay rent when Wim Volkers asked him to. However, they WERE an occupying army, and would certainly not have asked politely if they were welcome or not. In other words: they would gladly have taken the stadium anyway. By allowing them access to one part of the stadium, at least Ajax managed to keep them out of the other half and off the main pitch. Also, the ‘No Jews’ signs at the stadium were a German measure that any public place had to abide to, liable to punishment. Indeed, some restaurants may have bluntly refused to put them up (the one percent heroes), but for a stadium with ten thousand visitors every fortnight, it would be quite risky. It would be nice to be able to say that Ajax stuck their necks out, but there we are.

Why the veterans played a team of German soldiers, one can only guess: it was an unpublicized friendly, probably resulting from either a chummy atmosphere at one point that no one wanted to know about afterwards, or perhaps a German boast about their footballing capabilities - Who is to say? The result was published in the club magazine, so at the time they apparently didn’t see it as something to be ashamed about. Bear in mind that the platoon housed in the stadium were not a crack team, but conscripted soldiers who would probably rather have stayed at home anyway. Do I consider stealing potatoes and pit-coal from the German army an act of heroism? Although I have never presented it as such (it’s your interpretation), it was not something the Germans would have liked. Indeed, near the end of the war they would summarily shoot people caught stealing from their supplies - look at the little monument for a 12-year old boy in the Rietlanden area and you’ll understand. At the start of the occupation, when the Germans were housed in the stadium, punishment would have been less severe, and perhaps the Ajax officials could move around more cautiously, but when caught they might have had to pay the price. Call me a hypocrite if you want, but I’m not sure I would have taken the risk.

The atmosphere changed drastically after the first razzias against the Jews, who were clearly not counted as blood brothers. Why did Ajax not cancel their two home matches? Easy. While riots had started on February 19, the Germans didn’t start arresting ‘jewish hostages’ on 22nd, and the strike started on 24th. So there was no reason to cancel the match on 16th, and to do so on the 23rd would have taken a lot of insight in a confused situation.

I don’t remember the context from which my Parool quote comes (and I doubt if Kuper does), but I certainly do not remember ever denying the Jewish fanbase of Ajax in pre-war years. The Ajax following was certainly jewish in part, though certainly not entirely: much of the Ajax supporters would have lived in the centre of town (where traditionally many jewish people lived) and in the south, where many German jews had settled. The jewish reputation of Ajax in pre-war years would mostly have been in the minds of the people in the streets, but I have never read or heard any incident that would suggest any anti-semitism towards the club. What I do deny, though, is that Ajax were a ‘jewish’ club; there weren’t all that many jewish members (twelve had to be dropped in 1941 when the German anti-jewish measures came into force, out of a total of 431. As I wrote, that’s still twelve too many, but statistically it’s a very small minority), and in the 24 volumes of the club magazine published until then I haven’t come across any one mention of anything jewish about the club, or jewish feats being celebrated. Strangely enough, many other journalists have come to a similar conclusion: Suzanne Smit, who wanted to write her dissertation on Ajax during the war years but decided to change her subject to football in Amsterdam during the war because she couldn’t find enough to write about. André Swijtink, who wrote a very thorough book on the sports world during the occupation in Holland, doesn’t even mention Ajax. I spoke to him on the phone, and he affirmed he had been disappointed to find nothing about the club whatsoever. Also, the NIOD (the state documentation centre on the war years) has no file on the club at all.

All in all, I can’t help thinking that Simon Kuper, who has built himself a reputation for thorough research, was quite keen on finding anything as yet uncovered by the others before him, to tie in with the club’s centennial, and disappointed there wasn't much to find. Therefore, he presents no new facts, but mainly remarks about what should or should not have been done, critizising the work of his colleagues without (at least in my case) bothering to contact them for a comment (as, conveniently, all of the reviewers failed to do). This is where you might use the word hypocrite if you'd insist on using it at all.

I do, however, quite agree with you on your final conclusion: Ajax decided to keep their noses clean, and to do as they were told. Under totalitarian regimes, this is what people usually do. Yes, if everyone would stand up for humanitarian principles, th

-- Evert Vermeer (evert.vermeer@ajax.nl), July 27, 2001.

Thanks again for your time and effort (although it looks as if your contribution was posted before you were finished, just like your first one...)

Reading your comments, I must say we hardly seem to have an argument anymore. I agree on practically everything you write, so no problem there. And I have to say that I am truly amazed - and disappointed, too - by the fact that Simon Kuper did not contact you.

There's only one thing I still don't understand. We agree that Ajax were not exactly heroic during World War II. Also, we agree that the club can hardly be blamed for behaving like 98% of the people would do in times of occupation and fear.

Therefore, I don't understand why you didn't write that down in your book in a more literal way. The anecdotes about the treasurer demanding the Germans to pay some rent, and members stealing a few potatoes, come across as if they were meant to make things look better than they were. They would not have been necessary, especially because Ajax was not 'wrong'. They were just doing as everyone did.

The passage would have been more historically correct if you had put it - literally, for I care - like you did in your contribution above: "Ajax decided to keep their noses clean, and to do as they were told."

I know it's my personal interpretation, but the 'Volkers' and 'potatoes' incidents seem to be added in order to avoid the only historically correct conclusion: "While the Nazis were unfolding their evil plans, Ajax - like so many Dutchmen - decided to look the other way." Why didn't you conclude that? It would not have been a painful or embarrassing conclusion for Ajax; we agree on that.

Kind regards,

-- Menno (menno@ajax-usa.com), August 15, 2001.

These chapters make for great reading. Thanks, Ajax-USA, for providing them.

Is there any chance of seeing the other chapters? Is the book going to be published in English? I know they aren't as Ajax-relevant...but I am sure they would be illuminating to read. If the book will be published in English (sorry, I don't speak the Dutch my ancestors did) count me among the many who would add this our thin bookshelf of English language books on Dutch football.

Thanks again. D.M.

-- Darryl Mellema (darrylmellema@aol.com), September 07, 2001.

Ik vind jouw site niet zo begripvol. Ik snap wel dat je het opneemt voor joodse mensen die zich in Nederland bedreigd voelen door jodenleuzen of zo. Ik vind het heel erg wat er in WO2 is gebeurd; maar begrijp wel dat jodenleuzen nu echt niet hetzelfde betekent als toen.Tegenwoordig draait het bij voetbal om provocatie; niet om een discriminatierecord. Als er bij Feyenoord -Ajax een rabbijn en een persoon met Ajax-pet of zo langs lopen zal toch eerst de Ajax-fan worden aangevallen. En dat is niet grof bedoeld, maar houd feit en mening nou toch eens gescheiden! Clubs als Feyenoord en ADO Den Haag hebben al een reputatie in het buitenland. Sites als deze maken dat alleen nog maar erger. Dus ik hoop dat je een Nederlandse , tikje aangepast maakt.

P.S> Je mag me geeerust mailen. Ik ben geintereesseerd in uw reactie

-- barthezz - member of FMB (20010230@si.hhs.nl), November 16, 2001.

I write you this statement as a Feyenoord fanatic. Although I fully agree that it is sick when Feyenoord or other soccer fanatics make references to the atrocities commited during the Jewish Holocaust, I do not condemn using the term 'joden' (jews) as such when referring to Ajax and its supporters. The reason is that Ajax supporters started presenting themselves with the term 'joden' (jews) and showing off with flags of Israel and its symbol the Star of David. It is therefor not strange that supporters of other clubs started using the same term when refering to Ajax and their supporters. As long as arrogant Ajax supporters consider everything outside of Amsterdam farm country and refering to other clubs' supporters as 'boeren' (peasants) to provocate reactions, they should not be surprised that other clubs' supporters will start yelling unpleasant songs with the term 'joden' (jews) in it. So when Feyenoord supporters sing while jumping "en wie niet springt die is een jood" (and who isn't jumping is a jew), they are only refering to the fact that by jumping they show that they are not Ajax supporters. In this song, there is no reference to any atrocity commited during the Holocaust, so I do not have any problem with this song.

-- Hans van der Broek (puypuy69@yahoo.com), November 17, 2001.

Hi Hans - thanks for writing.

Your point is clear, and shared by almost every Ajax fan. The yells you referred to are not "too much" at all. Really not a problem. In fact, Ajax fans have a similar yell: "Who's not jumping is not a Jew..." (with a different melody though).

-- Menno (menno@ajax-usa.com), November 17, 2001.

Wel een beetje laat,maar deze week kwam ik tot de ontdekking dat Ajax in mijn computer is.Ajax was en is altijd in mijn gedachte.Van 1924 tot 1943 hebben wij op de Middenweg in Tuindorp Watergraafsmeer (Betodonrp) gewoond.Mijn eerste Ajax wedstrijd die ik zag,toen speelde Ajax nog aan de andere kant van de Kruislaan.Later werd het stadion gebouwd waar vroeger de boerderij Voorland was en dat was tegen over waar wij woonde.Wij konden ze savonds zien oefenen op de voortereinen en ben op Zondag mat mijn fam.heel veel naar "Ajax" gegaan.In begin 1950 ben ik naar Amerika gegaan,maar in mijn hart always een Ajax suporter gebleven.In de 80 ties zag ik zo nu en dan een wedstrijd via ESPN.De meeste namen uit Kupers boek zijn mij bekend alhoewel ik niemand persoonlijk heb gekend.Niets bijzonders dus te vermelden,alleen het bracht herinneringen terug en dat is heel veel waard. Maurice Monas

-- Maurice Monas (sm.monas@home.com), December 22, 2001.

I have 2 do a presentation 2morrow @ school, the subject is free 2 choose. Becuz of the recent incidents between FC Utrecht and Ajax 'supporters' I decided 2 do it 'bout the probems with 'Jewing'. This is how I found this subjective 'book' with the title; "Ajax, the Jews, the Netherlands". I think that the whole problem works both ways. Becuz the Ajax-supporters refer 2 themselves as Jews they provoke the opposite supporters 2 call them Jews. Theorettically the whole 'Jewing'-problem would stop if the ajax-supporters stop calling themselves Jews. But by now it's so common 2 use the word Jew, that it is unreasonable 2 think that it will stop this way. The only way 2 get rid of this awkward problem is 2 acknowledge that the word is used, but also try 2 detach the word Jew from the Holocaust. And that's what's missing in the book, Kuper blames the opposite suppporters for using the word Jew, while he ignores the fact that the ajax-supporters refer 2 themsleves as Jews by saying that the opposite supporters are responsible 4 using the word. Becuz of ecxessive amount of words used 2 make the Jews look like the victims he inperceptibly influences the reader. And so when the reader finally gets 2 the most important chapter (the for-last one) he isn't able 2 read this chapter objectively.

gReeDz RD

ps. I hope your're able 2 take some critic so you wont erase this, like those other (childish) reactions of opposite supporters.

-- Road Devil (road.devil6@feyenoord.nl), May 20, 2002.

I just read a post on BigSoccer that ended with...

"I am looking forward to Simon Kuper's book on Ajax, which has not been releaseed yet."

Wow, that would be very cool! Does anyone know more about this?

-- Jim (jim@ajax-usa.com), October 08, 2002.

Het is zo goed al die dingen te herinneren.Voor de oorlog woonde ik ook in de Rapenburger straat,naast Bennie Muller,maar zijn broer Jopie en ik waren vrienden en soms moest Joop op zijn "broertje" passen en hij was een paar jaar jonger dan wij.Wat mij het meeste bijstaat is dat toen Bennie, voor de eerste keer in Antwerpen tegen Belgie speelde,en het Wilhelmus werd gespeeld,liepen de tranen over mijn wangen en ik ben of was een "anti royalist". Ja deze dingen brengen goeie herinneringen terug.Ik heeb nog steeds contact met de Mullers.Kwam daar elke vrijdag met mijn "ZUURKAR" Ik wens iedereen die bij dit boek betrokken is een "big mazzaltov" Ruben uit Melbourne

-- Ruben Pots (rpotts1@bigpond.net.au), November 05, 2002.

Amazon.co.uk says Simon Kuper is publishing (in English) "Ajax, the Dutch, the War" (paperback) on Nov 6th 2003. Having said that, it also says he's releasing "Ajax, the Jews, the War" (hardback) on Jan 16th 2003. So I assume they're still not sure on the final format/title. See link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books- uk&field-author=Kuper%2C%20Simon/202-0154887-8007821

-- rudy (rudy.hulsman@yum.com), November 26, 2002.

According to the author, but book is entitled "Ajax, The Dutch, The War" and is being published in the UK in January. We hope to have some more information about this book on Ajax USA in the near future. Personally, I can't wait to read it!

-- Jim (jim@ajax-usa.com), November 26, 2002.

Here's the first review I've seen of Kuper's new book (sort of a review, anyway):

Soccernet

-- Jim (jim@ajax-usa.com), January 12, 2003.