Holland Heineken House 'to go' place in PyeongChang
Holland Heineken House at the Lakai Sandpine Resort in Gangneung. Korea Times photos by Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
Orange and green beams of light shoot through the air attracting visitors and residents from all corners.
Follow the lights, and an orange-lit house will appear with a large green tulip and the words Holland House on the front of it.
This is the Netherland’s official Olympic house dubbed the “Holland Heineken House” (HHH) set up at the Lakai Sandpine Resort in Gangneung.
The purpose of establishing a house during the Olympics falls into two big categories.
One focuses on promoting the nation’s culture, heritage and traditions, while the other aims to throw the best parties in town.
The HHH has racked up quite a reputation and has become a hotspot in town for fans and visitors to maximize their Olympic experience.
On the pathway to the entrance are 14 engraved tiles listing all the Olympics the HHH has taken part in.
The HHH was first established for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and since then it has opened in all parts of the globe for both the winter and summer extravaganzas of sports.
The sun had just begun to set, but prospective visitors had to turn back because of a printed sign that said “We are sold out for today.”
Seven hundred tickets are available daily but all have been sold out since the PyeongChang Olympics began on Feb. 9
.
If visitors are lucky enough to obtain a ticket it will cost them 12.50 euros ($15) in exchange for a wristband that gives full access to the orange festivities that lie behind the thick doors.
“Basically for Heineken it is all about celebrating the success of the Dutch athletes and the medals they win. We do that in a unique manner, we are an open house whereas a lot of the other houses are closed only invitation or VIP,” said Matt Bogaerts global sponsorship manager at Heineken International.
Cheer for Netherlands
Scores of Dutch fans watch the women's team pursuit final at the Holland Heineken House Wednesday. The Dutch team won silver clocking in at 2:55.45 behind Japan. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin
Scores of fans are fixated on the large TV screen cheering for the Dutch women’s team pursuit finals.
The Netherland’s trademark beer Heineken is available and Dutch traditional finger food Bitterballen sold for 8,000 won ($7) per dish.
A fusion version of the Korean traditional rice dish bibimbap is also on the menu for 13,000 won.
“This house is like a home away from home, a lot of Dutch atmosphere here and is the best place to party in town” said Ivan Fama.
Fama then pointed to “Legendary Lane,” a wall filled with athlete’s pictures and 16 engraved tiles hung on it, listing the Dutch athletes’ medal achievements at this year’s Winter Games.
“I came from Netherlands to cheer on my girlfriend Lara Van Ruijven, she won bronze in the women’s 3000 meter speed skate, so I’m proud of her,” he said.
Holland Heineken House turns into a booming club at night. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin
Athletes and fans as one
At 10 p.m. the lights are dimmed, disco lights pop on, accompanied by a DJ spinning the latest hits to hype the crowd.
In a matter of seconds, the whole ambiance of the Holland House turns from a sports bar to the hottest club in town.
“I have been to the house several times during the 2016 Rio Olympics and had a blast. This place is all about partying with great music, drinks and people, the best place to party during the Olympics by far,” said Vinicius Oliveira from Brazil.
Ireen Wust hands the special medal tile to the Holland Heineken House crowd, following the women's speed skating at Gangneung, Wednesday. Photo provided by Heineken International
A few hours in, the crowd goes wild as Dutch Olympic athletes, who have won medals from earlier in the day standing on stage in front of their fans.
Key highlights of the finals are displayed in the background while each athlete receives a Henieken medal tile, which will be placed on Legendary Lane.
“Athletes come here after their performance after winning a medal, bring the fans and the athletes together, we celebrate their medal in a very energetic dynamic way with a nice show,” Said Bogaerts.
“Gangnam Style,” a song just about everyone has heard at least once resonated on the stage, and the medalists in their own way followed the dance moves of Psy calling it “orange style”.
For over two decades, it has become a tradition for Dutch athletes to stop by the HHH after claiming a medal. The Netherlands has racked up 16 medals in this year’s Olympics so far, and all athletes have visited to celebrate.
"The Holland Heineken House is known around the world as the best place to visit during each Olympics. I'm very lucky to have celebrated here many times over in my career,” said Ireen Wust, a Dutch speed skater who has won one gold and two silver medals in PyeongChang.
“I still remember the first time I celebrated here after I won gold in Turin, 2006. It's a very special place for the Dutch athletes, but also of course the Dutch fans and international fans now.”
Locals that stayed late for the ceremony were envious of the “fan service” and tradition the Dutch gave to their fans.
“Dutch medalists celebrate with fans, It’s a shame Korean medalists don’t do the same. I wish the Korean Olympic Committee can find a tradition to implement for the fans,” said Park So-hyun, a visitor from Seoul.
There are 15 National Olympic Houses, mostly run by the nation’s Olympic Committee or corporate sponsors, set up in PyeongChang and Gangneung for the duration of the Olympics and are slated to run through Feb. 25.