VV Capelle (Netherlands)

VV Capelle

Ground: Sportpark 't Slot

Capacity: 4,000

Club Founded: 1930

League: Vierde Divisie B - 5th Tier (current level)

VV Capelle is a Dutch amateur football club from the town of Capelle aan den Ijssel, on the eastern outskirts of Rotterdam.

Club Background

The club's move to Sportpark ‘t Slot, with its three pitches, was a catalyst for improvement after many years playing local football.  Capelle began collecting titles in the late 80s, as it looked to encourage young players to come through the ranks. 

After several Zaterdag/Saturday Hoofdklasse runner-up finishes, the team was promoted via the play-offs in 2009-10 to the Topklasse, with trainer René Vermunt as team trainer. That same season, Capelle reached the third round of the KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup), where FC Twente won the tie at De Grolsch Veste 4-0.

Theo de Boon’s side defeated EHC Hoensbroek in the KNVB Beker in 2014-15 before going down to  FC Volendam at t’ Slot in round two. Capelle managed to arrange several attractive, friendly games against professional neighbours Sparta, Excelsior, and Feyenoord.

International sides Rangers and Galatasaray also sent teams, as well as a Newcastle United side with their manager, Sir Bobby Robson, with the money raised going to the New Breath Foundation charity. As a Derde Divisie side in 2016-17, playing in the fourth tier of Dutch football, Edwin Top was in charge of the team. 

The team was relegated in 2017-18. Ralph Kalkman was appointed as team trainer in 2020, with 'Kasteelbewoners' finishing third in 2021-22 before René van Eck took charge as the side finished league runners-up, before the Dutch league system was tweaked.

Castelle were placed in the fifth-tier Vierde Divisie B. Kevin Vink was appointed trainer in 2024 to build on a third-place finish the previous season.

My visit

Stadium Visit - Thursday 28th January 2016

My morning in Rotterdam had gone very well. I managed to get inside all three previous venues I'd visited. The B Metro line took me from Nieuw Verlaat after calling in at XerxesDZB back to Capelseburg, where I changed to the C line for two stops down to Slotlaan.

It was just over a ten-minute walk down Slotlaan and then onto Da Costasingel for a few hundred yards before arriving at Sportpark ‘t Slot on the right-hand side. 

The initial signs were not good as the main driveway behind one goal, down to the clubhouse, was locked up. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find access to any other way either. The small dikes surrounding the ground also stopped me from getting too close for photos. I did the best that I could.

'T Slot looked like a smart enough place. There was a neat cantilevered stand on the far side with bench seating, and more club buildings towards the entrance end. A small TV gantry stood opposite, with the rest of the ground made up of hard standing with a tall hedge enclosing the arena. 

Some open terracing was on the side of the seated stand. As was the case at many Dutch amateur grounds, raised advertising boards also surrounded the ground. I walked back to Slotlaan station as it was time for an interesting discussion over left luggage lockers and hotel check-ins, which can be found on the Feyenoord page.