Amsterdam up for UEFA Europa League final

The UEFA Europa League final, on 15 May 2013, will see the Amsterdam ArenA become the focal point of the footballing world for one night, and Patrick Kluivert says his home town cannot wait for its close-up. "In 1998, we had the final of Real Madrid against Juventus," he told UEFA.com, looking back to the most recent UEFA Champions League denouement in the venue. "That was a big success. And the UEFA Europa League is certainly not less."

Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) president Michael van Praag believes football fans will love what they find in the city and, with tickets now on sale, he knows Amsterdam has a lot to offer. "People come to Amsterdam, not only because of the museums, or the characteristic elements of the city, but also because it's a very pleasant city, with a lot of restaurants, terraces, bars," he said. "So it is very nice if this final allows people to visit Amsterdam who would normally not come here. We are hoping for this of course, because they might come home and say: 'We've been to Amsterdam, what a great city – let's visit it again.'"