Quilindschy Hartman: ‘’They used to think: he’s aggressive or a bit crazy’’

White and Green

“It’s amazing to pose in such a retro Feyenoord shirt,” says Hartman as we handed him the football kit. ”My mum used to let me pick a new Feyenoord shirt every year—home or away. Now, it’s extra special to see supporters wearing a Feyenoord shirt with my name on it. I see it quite often, I must say. I think fans enjoy seeing a local youth player in the first team. I never put a name on my own shirts, not even Guidetti’s, even though I was a huge fan of his. The best one? That was the away shirt with white and green. It’s special because I won the youth championship with Feyenoord Under-13 wearing that shirt. Now we have a green-and-white version as our third kit.”

Ratatouille tattoo

“I enjoy these photoshoots. When you’re new to professional football, you have to get used to it a bit, but I really like fashion. I enjoy exploring it and creating my own style. My tattoos are part of my personality. I always knew I wanted lots of them. When I was 11, I even told my mum I wanted one. Each of them tells a story about my life. You can read who I am through them. One of my tattoos is of Ratatouille, the animated film about a rat who’s a fantastic chef, even though no one likes him and everyone wants him gone.”

”For a long time, people held certain prejudices about me. They’d think: he’s a bit aggressive or maybe a bit crazy. People are often surprised when they actually talk to me.”

Mats Wieffer

“Back in the day, when I didn’t have money and was only focused on football in Feyenoord’s youth academy, I used to think: someday I’m going to buy everything I like. For example, prawns in a meal—something I’d hesitate over before. Now, if I see someone in that situation, I’m happy to pay for it.”

”As for fashion, I’m not tied to specific brands; I just follow my own style. Sometimes I even give well-meaning advice. I have this urge to help others—I want everyone to be okay. When it comes to teammates, you spend every day together, so it’s important to create a good vibe. For instance, I helped Mats Wieffer settle in when he first joined. I made sure he felt at home. Now, Mats is one of my best friends.”

If you want to read the full interview we did with Quilindschy Hartman, order ISSUE 83 now.