Historical Crests SBV Vitesse

Name: ​ ​ ​SBV Vitesse

Nickname(s): ​ Vites

Founded: ​ 1892

Stadium: ​ ​ GelreDome (Arnhem)

Capacity: ​ 21,248

Vitesse Arnhem Crest History

The first official Vitesse logo was a traditional shield-shaped crest. The badge was divided diagonally, with a yellow section on the left and a black section on the right. Across the shield appeared the text "AVC Vitesse", while the year 1892, marking the club's foundation, was displayed on the opposite side. This simple but elegant design became the symbol of Vitesse for many decades and established the yellow-and-black colour scheme that remains central to the club's identity today.

A major transformation occurred in 1984, when the professional football branch (BVO Vitesse) formally separated from the amateur section. Following the split, the amateur club retained a modified version of the historic badge, while the professional club adopted an entirely new crest.

The new 1984 crest retained the traditional shield shape but introduced a much more modern appearance. The badge featured straight lines along the top and sides and displayed the name Vitesse in bold white capital letters across the upper section. Beneath the club name appeared a striking double-headed eagle, a symbol derived from the historic coat of arms of Arnhem.

In the autumn of 2011, Vitesse introduced a refined version of the crest. Although the overall concept remained unchanged, the club implemented thirteen separate modifications to modernise and improve the design. The symmetry of the eagle was enhanced, creating a more balanced and elegant appearance. The black outer border was replaced with a white outline, giving the crest greater visual clarity.

Vitesse Arnhem Club History

Founded on 14 May 1892, Vitesse Arnhem is one of the oldest football clubs in the Netherlands and one of the most historic clubs outside the traditional Dutch elite. Based in the city of Arnhem, the club adopted the name Vitesse, the French word for "speed," and has represented the capital of Gelderland for more than a century.

Following the introduction of professional football in 1954, the club experienced periods of both success and struggle. Like many traditional Dutch clubs, Vitesse alternated between the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie before gradually establishing itself as a stable professional organisation.

The most successful period in Vitesse's history arrived during the 1990s. Under a combination of strong management, talented squads and increasing ambition, the club became one of the strongest teams outside Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord. Vitesse regularly qualified for European competition and developed a reputation for exciting attacking football.

The highlight of this era came during the 1997–98 season, when Vitesse achieved its highest-ever Eredivisie finish by ending the campaign in third place. The achievement remains the club's best league performance and secured qualification for European football.

A major milestone arrived in 1998 with the opening of the GelreDome. The innovative stadium, featuring a retractable roof and retractable pitch, quickly became one of the most modern football venues in Europe and symbolised the club's growing ambitions.

Another significant chapter began in 2010, when Vitesse became the first Dutch professional football club to be acquired by a foreign investor. Georgian businessman Merab Jordania purchased the club and initiated an ambitious project aimed at challenging the established powers of Dutch football. The increased spending and high-profile arrivals earned Vitesse the nickname "FC Hollywood on the Rhine." During this period, the club returned to European competition and attracted considerable national and international attention.

The greatest achievement in the club's history arrived in 2017, when Vitesse won the KNVB Cup for the first time. Defeating AZ Alkmaar in the final, the club secured its first major trophy after 125 years of existence. The victory sparked huge celebrations throughout Arnhem and remains the defining moment of the modern era.

Vitesse's fiercest rivalry is with NEC Nijmegen. Matches between the two clubs are known as the Gelderse Derby and represent one of the most intense rivalries in Dutch football. The rivalry extends far beyond football and reflects centuries of competition between the two largest cities of Gelderland: Arnhem and Nijmegen. The origins of the rivalry date back to the period when both cities first received city rights, and the proximity of just twenty kilometres between them has helped fuel a deep sense of local pride and competition. 

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