Dirk Kuyt: ‘Manneke’ in Antwerp

Dirk Kuyt (44) wanted to quickly recapture the thrill and pressure that only top athletes know after the spectacular end of his playing career, fearing the infamous ‘black hole’. But it’s only now, in Antwerp at Beerschot, that he feels fully at home. “Belgium feels really good now.”

As the coach of Beerschot in Antwerp, Dirk Kuyt has become a ‘Manneke,’ one of the charming nicknames for Beerschot staff members. He seems to have found his place after a career full of highlights in Rotterdam, Liverpool, and Istanbul. And now, Antwerp—another port city.

“There’s no such thing as coincidence,” says the fisherman’s son from Katwijk with a laugh. “I’m a child of the sea. The sea means a lot to me, and it has always drawn me in. My father was at sea most of the week. He’d leave on Monday and come home on Friday afternoon with fish. Saturday was for watching my football match with Quick Boys in Katwijk, and Sunday was for church. In the evening, we’d watch Studio Sport.”

Young Dirk wanted to go to sea as well. “But that wasn’t allowed. ‘You have to stay on land,’ my father, who has since passed away, would say. I’m grateful to him; it has brought me so much.” On a clear day, he can see the North Sea from his apartment in Antwerp. “But I also look out onto the river Scheldt. And in the Netherlands, in Noordwijk where I have a house, the sea is also close by.” He feels a connection to port cities. “They attract a certain type of people. Hard workers. No-nonsense. People who keep their feet on the ground and don’t stop working hard after achieving success, always striving for the next goal.”

City Derby

The sea, the river Scheldt, Beerschot – he’s enjoying his time in the city, where he’s set to rekindle the city derby against the archrival Royal Antwerp FC this season, after securing promotion to the first division with the second-tier club in May. He knows the date of the match between the two clubs by heart. “Saturday, September 28th at De Bosuil. People appreciate that I know that, I’ve noticed. It often comes up when I meet fans in the city.” He feels a lot of appreciation from the Belgians in general. “Antwerp is said to be the most Dutch city in Belgium. It’s beautiful here. I love nice spots, good restaurants. There’s a lot of variety here. The club staff gave me a whole list of restaurant recommendations that I should visit with my wife. It’s a good thing I just extended my contract because we haven’t tried them all yet. We’re moving into a new house soon, and my wife will join me here. We’re really looking forward to that.”

Softer

The contrast with the Netherlands is significant. “After my time in the Netherlands with ADO Den Haag, I needed to step back a bit.” In The Hague, he started his first job as a head coach in 2022, but due to internal issues at the club, he didn’t thrive and was dismissed within five months. “That’s why Belgium feels so good now. It’s more relaxed here. Softer. Sure, I worked at a lower level last season, so the attention was less than I was used to, but even now in the first division, I notice it too. The way we treat coaches in the Netherlands can be really intense.”

Kuyt remains ever the optimist, always rising to the occasion—whether as a right-back for the Dutch national team at a World Cup or as Feyenoord’s saviour, adding a fairytale final chapter to his own career after losing his starting spot. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s also part of football. It’s the most popular sport; everyone watches it and has an opinion about it. But when it gets personal, as it often does in the Netherlands, it can feel really unpleasant, especially when things aren’t going well on the pitch.”

It wasn’t that he specifically wanted to move abroad. “But if the opportunity arose and it suited me, I would take it. You’re young, and you want to gain experience – make those flight hours. Gaining experience is important.” Kuyt had never really considered Belgium. “But the conversations I had with the technical director at the time felt right from the start. It’s not a given that you’ll have your pick of clubs after an early dismissal. It’s great to be able to work on my coaching career here.”

The full interview can be read in Life After Football ISSUE 82, which is available for purchase in our online shop.

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Dirk Kuyt: ‘Manneke’ in Antwerp

City Derby

Softer

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