Together we're fans with Bas!
In this series, we speak to PSV fans from across the Brainport Region.
To make money issues a topic of conversation, Brainport Eindhoven launched the campaign "Are you also in red this month?". In the match against Heerenveen on May 21st, the PSV players came out in a shirt that was colored red for 60%. Exactly the percentage of Dutch citizens who sometimes worry about their bills. But the shirt is also a wonderful collector's item for true fans. In this series we speak to the 4 winners of the shirts who explain why they are fans of the club as well as of the region.
Together with Ilona and their children Teun and Job, Bas lives in the center of Eindhoven. From their house you can almost see and hear the Philips stadium. When PSV plays they usually know before the NOS when there a goal has been scored. Originally Bas is from Helmond but he has always felt connected to Eindhoven.
Bas, what does it mean to you to be a fan?
Being a PSV fan for me is linked to the region. I grew up with PSV and have always been connected to it. When I worked in Amsterdam I was always 'the Brabander' there because I was rooting for PSV. But I'm actually proud of that. My kids are bigger fans than I am. They immediately asked me when I won the PSV shirt "Has this shirt been Xavi's?!".
Are you proud of Eindhoven?
Yes most definitely. What makes us really unique is not ASML or the Evoluon, but the way we work together here. Here you don't have to pretend, we are down-to-earth and manage on our own.
I also like what Brainport has achieved in The Hague. That too is a powerful form of cooperation. Carnival associations and the Brabantsedag in Heeze are also wonderful examples of our mentality and teamwork.
How do you look at the Brainport region?
For my work, I regularly visit town halls in the Brainport region. I work for the municipality of Eindhoven as a sustainability consultant. I am particularly occupied with the field of energy and ways to make the city more sustainable. I think that Eindhoven and the Brainport region as a whole are rapidly developing. For example, a lot of people come here from abroad and that has an effect on how the city and the region function. I do view things in a positive way, but there is much work to do to keep communicating with each other.
What do you think of Brainport Eindhoven's "Are you also in the red this month?" campaign?
It's really very good. We saw at work when gas prices were rising when war broke out in the Ukraine that people could no longer pay their bills. As many as 14,000 households in Eindhoven alone were struggling with their payments. That's an awful lot, of course, and that's why we try to reach out to people. This campaign helps to get people talking about financial worries and maybe even to take action.
The fact is that there are all kinds of resources available. For example, we're going around the streets with a service bus ("klusbus") to help people cut energy costs with simple things like draft strips and radiator insulation.
Finally, if you could say something to the 800,000 residents of the Brainport region. What would it be?
Keep in touch with each other. New expats settling here and old Eindhoven residents seeing their streets change should start talking to each other. It also helps to speak Dutch more often to people who are learning the language. So let's make that connection!
Thank you Bas! Have fun with the unique shirt!