The Netherlands have one of the most recognisable fan songs at the World Cup, and it is not hard to understand why “Links Rechts” has taken off.
The song, by Dutch party act Snollebollekes, was originally released in 2015 but became a huge football anthem when Netherlands supporters started using it at EURO 2024.
Now, with Ronald Koeman’s side facing Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in Group F, the chant should be heard again wherever the Dutch fans gather.
What does Netherlands chant ‘Links Rechts’ mean in English?
The full Dutch lyrics for Snollebollekes’ Links Rechts are available on Genius, but the key chant is built around the words “naar links” and “naar rechts”. In English, that simply means “to the left” and “to the right”.
The verse in English goes like:
Welcome in the party tent, go ahead and act silly
It’s a shame about the attic, but the roof is coming off
Hakken, trashing, jumping, the place is going crazyEveryone from the left to the right, the place is getting trashed
Everyone from the left to the right, the place is getting trashed
Everyone from the left to the right, the place is getting trashed
Everyonе from the left to the right, thе place is getting trashed
[Chorus]
To the left
To the right
One more time
To the left
To the right
That is the whole reason the song works so well for football crowds. Fans bounce one way, then the other, turning streets, fan parks and stadium sections into a wave of orange moving in unison.
“Links Rechts” became the unofficial Dutch football anthem after supporters helped it go viral during Euro 2024.
The lyrics themselves are not really about football. It is a party track about chaos, dancing, drinking and everyone moving together, which is exactly why it has translated so easily into tournament culture.
Netherlands have serious work to do on the pitch in Group F, but in the stands, they already have one of the World Cup’s loudest and simplest anthems ready to go.
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