In our Sport DJ Spotlight series, we celebrate the people behind the music played at sporting events across the world.
From stadium announcers and DJs, to music curators and media teams, each team or event across the world of sport will have someone picking the songs that set the tone in the build up to the start of the sporting action and inbetween it – whether in the stadium/arena itself, or in a fanzone or the finish line. Our Sport DJ Spotlight Q&A brings you insight into how these people got their start, what influences the choice of music they play at their team’s matches and more.
Our latest Sport DJ Spotlight feature is with Benjamin Smid, Stadium DJ at Dutch Eredivisie side ADO Den Haag.
Sport Playlists: When did you begin DJing for ADO Den Haag?
Benjamin Smid: Since the opening of the new stadium in 2007, so almost 20 years ago now.
SP: How did you get into the role?
BS: My brother Wietze has been the stadium announcer at ADO Den Haag since 1997. In the old Zuiderparkstadion, he did this together with someone else who took care of the music in the stadium. When that person quit during the move to the new stadium, my brother asked if I would like to take over that role. And that’s how we’ve been sitting together in “our booth” above the players tunnel for almost 20 years now for every home match.
SP: Did you go to watch live football or other sports when you were younger? If so, can you remember your earliest experiences of that?
BS: As a young boy, I often went to the Zuiderpark stadion with my father. I found the stadium atmosphere as a little boy very impressive. ADO Den Haag is known for its passionate supporters who always make themselves heard for the full 90 minutes.
I still remember being allowed to be a ball boy during a home match once; it was a match against RBC that we won. At halftime, all the ball boys were allowed to take a penalty against the backup goalkeeper, Max de Jong. I scored against him back then, and that whole evening made a big impression on me.
SP: In your time at ADO Den Haag, who’s the best player you’ve got to see in action?
BS: We’ve had many good, goal-scoring strikers over the past years, including Mike Havenaar, Michiel Kramer, Thomas Verheydt, and Bjorn Johnsen. But if I have to pick one person, I’d still go with Dmitri Bulykin. He came to ADO Den Haag from Anderlecht in the 2010/2011 season. A somewhat stocky, unknown Russian striker who didn’t have great statistics up to that point. On his debut, he scored twice right away, and ultimately “the Tsar of The Hague” finished in 2nd place on the Eredivisie top scorers list with 21 goals. He was also the only one to have his own goal tune (‘Kalinka’) alongside our normal goal tune. Unfortunately, he only played at ADO Den Haag for one season.
SP: What’s the best moment or game been in your time working at the WerkTalent Stadion?
BS: We’ve experienced many highlights (and unfortunately also low points) over the past years. From promotions to securing European football, but last season’s promotion and championship is definitely one of the biggest highlights. After five years where we came very close to promotion a few times, the supporters were longing for a new promotion. When this happened last season as early as March at home against Jong Utrecht, a true street party erupted. A pitch invasion, players carried on shoulders, supporters with tears of joy in their eyes. A moment never to forget.
SP: What influences the choices that go into your playlist ahead of a matchday – is it completely your call on what gets played, or do you have players, club staff, fans etc. requesting you to play certain tracks?
BS: I have a lot of freedom in the music I play on a matchday. Sometimes requests come in from supporters or staff, and I do try to honour those requests.
SP: What sort of atmosphere do you like to create in the build-up to kick off at the WerkTalent Stadion with the music you play? Has that changed over time the longer you’ve been in the role?
BS: You try to build up a certain tension as the match gets closer to starting. The volume goes up a bit louder, and often we have extra entertainment right before the match begins, such as a singer on the pitch or a DJ playing live on the pitch. This heightens the match tension in the stands.
SP: What are your favourite genres of music or artists you like to select for your setlist/playlists?
BS: I always try to combine recent, popular music with artists from The Hague like Kane, Goldband, and Son Mieux. Furthermore, several songs about the club have been made over the years (John Medley – ‘Groen Geel Hart’, Wesley de Bruin – ‘Ut zen die gele, ut zen die groene’, and Agga Aad, Vlechtje and Joop Buyt – ‘Ado Holladiejee’) which I also often play before the match. Closer to kick-off, I play more dance music, and Dutch sing-alongs also usually go down well. And during halftime, I always play the old club anthem, ‘ADO zet in uw krachten’.
SP: Do you have a favourite track to play to motivate the fans in the build-up to a match?
BS: ‘Oh oh Den Haag’ has been the walk-out tune for years; the song belongs to the city, and every time I get goosebumps when the whole stadium sings along to this song at the top of their lungs as the players come onto the pitch.
SP: Who is your favourite artist/band of all time?
BS: Tough one, I have a fairly broad taste in music, but if I have to choose one band, I’d go with Coldplay.
SP: What are the biggest lessons you’ve learnt from working in your role at ADO Den Haag?
BS: Through my role within the club, you see how committed the employees are and how hard they work behind the scenes for the club. This can sometimes be harder to see from the outside.
Because you are present at every home match, you see how much the club means to the supporters. It’s fantastic to see how passionate people are about the club and how quickly season tickets sold out this season. It’s extra fun that all home matches are sold out this season, which only benefits the atmosphere.
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