Dutch Orange craze reaches fever pitch

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

THE HAGUE (AFP) — As Orange fever rises with every goal scored in the Dutch team's Euro 2008 campaign, lawyers, housewives and school kids become crazed wig-wearing fans adorning their homes, bikes and even their pets in the national colour.

Normally sedate suburban streets have been transformed into massive canvasses for row upon row of tiny, orange, fluttering flags. Window sills sport orange flowers -- real and fake, and figurines with wild orange hair ahead of Saturday's quarter-final against Russia.

Many a home and office window displays a banner with the words: "Hup (Go) Holland!", and at least one fan has gone to the extent of draping his whole house in orange, according to a newspaper photograph.

Cars, bicycles and pet dogs are used to display the...