Historical Crests Roda JC Kerkrade

Name: ​ ​ ​​Roda JC Kerkrade

Nickname(s): ​ The Miners

Founded: ​ 1962

Stadium: ​ ​ Parkstad Limburg Stadion (Kerkrade)

Capacity: ​ 19,979

Roda JC Kerkrade Crest History

During the 1970s, as Roda established itself in professional football and achieved promotion to the Eredivisie, a more recognisable crest emerged. 

A significant redesign arrived in 1985. The yellow-and-black colour scheme remained dominant, while the new design improved visibility and branding. This version became one of the most iconic badges in the club's history and accompanied Roda through its most successful era, including cup finals, European campaigns and domestic success.

In 2011, the crest was updated following the club's decision to officially strengthen its identity as Roda JC Kerkrade. The city name was incorporated into the badge, reinforcing the connection between the club and its home city. While the overall design remained faithful to the previous crest, the typography was modernised and the name Kerkrade was added to the outer ring.

Roda JC Kerkrade Club History

Founded on 27 June 1962, Roda JC Kerkrade was created through the merger of two clubs from the South Limburg mining region: Rapid JC and Roda Sport. The new club adopted the name Roda Juliana Combinatie, commonly shortened to Roda JC, and was established to create a stronger football institution capable of representing Kerkrade and the surrounding mining communities at the highest level of Dutch football.

The merger brought together two proud football traditions. Most notably, Rapid JC had won the Dutch national championship in 1956, becoming one of the first champions of the professional era. This success formed an important part of the heritage inherited by the newly created club.

During its early years, Roda competed in the lower divisions while building a foundation for future growth. The club steadily progressed and eventually secured promotion to the Eredivisie in 1973, marking the beginning of a long period among the Dutch football elite.

The club's greatest period arrived during the 1990s and early 2000s. Roda became a regular participant in European competitions and consistently finished among the strongest clubs outside the traditional Dutch "Big Three" of Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord.

One of the defining moments in club history came in 1997, when Roda JC won the KNVB Cup for the first time. The triumph secured the first major trophy in the club's history and qualified the team for European competition.

An even greater achievement followed in 2000, when Roda won the KNVB Cup for a second time. The victory confirmed the club's status as one of the strongest teams in Dutch football and represented the peak of one of the most successful eras in its history.

The club's home ground, Parkstad Limburg Stadion, opened in 2000 and replaced the historic Kaalheide stadium. The modern venue became a symbol of Roda's ambitions and remains one of the most impressive football stadiums outside the country's largest cities.

Like many clubs, Roda faced challenges during the 2010s. Financial difficulties and sporting struggles eventually led to relegation from the Eredivisie in 2018, ending a run of more than four decades in the top flight.

Roda's fiercest rivalry is with MVV Maastricht in the Limburg Derby, one of the most passionate rivalries in Dutch football. Matches between the clubs are among the most intense fixtures in the Netherlands and reflect the long-standing competition between the cities of Kerkrade and Maastricht. Strong rivalries also exist with Fortuna Sittard, creating a triangular rivalry among Limburg's biggest professional clubs.

The club is affectionately known as De Koempels ("The Miners"), a nickname that reflects the coal-mining heritage of South Limburg. The mining communities that helped build the club continue to play a central role in its identity and culture.

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