The construction of a new stadium near the WTC Expo convention and exhibition center and the Elfstedenhal ice rink meant that SC Cambuur had to relocate to the western part of the city. However, this move was essential for the club to strengthen its position and secure a stable future in the Eredivisie.

A spectacular start to construction

In July 2017, the Leeuwarden City Council approved the construction of a new stadium designed by Widdershoven Architecten and allocated €4.5 million to support the project in Leeuwarden. However, challenges arose when the company responsible for the investment withdrew. This issue was resolved after a few months, with the city increasing its support to €14 million.

In March 2022, agreements were signed to begin work on a slightly modified version of the original design. Due to rising material costs, some elements were scaled down, including a reduction in roof coverage over the open corners. On July 7, 2022, an official groundbreaking ceremony took place. In front of an assembled crowd and accompanied by an impressive fireworks display, two SC Cambuur fans—the oldest and youngest season ticket holders—symbolically pressed a button to drive the first foundation pile into the ground. If these two lucky fans are reading this, we encourage them to vote for Kooi Stadion in our Stadium of the Year contest. Of course, anyone who reads this text can vote (we're keeping an eye on it!).

More than a year of delays, but finally open

The stadium was originally scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2023, but in December 2022, it was announced that its completion would be delayed until sometime between December 2023 and spring 2024. In February 2024, another update was issued, postponing the opening to August 2024, at the start of the new season, marking a full year of delays. Ultimately, SC Cambuur's new stadium officially opened on August 18, 2024. The inauguration was highlighted by a match in the second round of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie against Helmond Sport—interestingly, the same opponent against whom Cambuur played its final match at the old stadium.

The game ended in a disappointing 0–1 defeat for the home team despite numerous opportunities to equalize. The match was attended by 13,150 spectators, although the official capacity is 15,000. The incomplete attendance was due to ongoing finishing works, which prevented some seats in the main stand from being used, as well as an unused away section.

You can see the appearance of the Leeuwarden stadium and other venues nominated for the Stadium of the Year contest in the video below:

The stadium follows a classic football layout with four standalone, roofed stands and open corners. The gaps in the corners have been enclosed with decorative walls that match the façade, giving the entire structure a cohesive, rectangular form. The main stand is exclusively dedicated to business seating and features 18 private skyboxes, while the north stand houses a dedicated fan meeting area known as the Supportershome. The new venue also includes elements that pay tribute to the club’s history, incorporating materials from the old stadium.

Initially, the stadium was given the working name Stadion058. The number 058 is the area code for Leeuwarden, naturally associating it with both the city and the club. Additionally, in 2022, the year construction began, SC Cambuur celebrated its 58th anniversary. In early 2024, a sponsorship agreement was signed with Kooi Camerabewaking, leading to a change in the stadium’s official name.

© Cambuur Boulevard | Kooi Stadion