Henk’s Black Forest Bakery & European Delicatessen, a Dallas dining favorite since the 1980s, is the unofficial gathering center for the Dallas area Dutch community - at least when there is any “voetbal” to be played.. The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, features several games at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in suburban Arlington. The Netherlands National Team was slated to play Japan in the opening game bringing scores of Dutch nationals (and even more Dutch Americans) to Dallas. On June 13, the night before the afternoon match, Henk’s owners (grown children of Henk), Adrian, Hubertus, and Hannika, threw one big party. Outdoors under a big tent in the parking lot and indoors where the diner activity thrives all week (and the air conditioning worked), over 300 partiers most all clad in Dutch Oranje gathered to celebrate and let the beers flow, Henk’s brats get devoured, and to dance to a very versatile Texas style band. Below are some of my photos (everyone loves a party pic even if I was unofficial) to capture the joy of the night. On the day after, another large crowd gathered to watch the game live as Henk’s great staff managed to throw yet another Dutch-centered game watching party. The fans were excited nearly the whole game until somehow Japan tied it up, 2-2, in the very last minutes. The Dutch presence throughout the DFW area was extraordinary and well celebrated. Click on any photo thumbnail below to see the whole photo enlarged.

After its opening game with Japan, the Netherlands played two more group contests and its round of 32 knockout contest on June 29 against Morocco. None of these later games were played at Dallas Stadium but Henk’s still hosted game watching parties the last of which was on a Monday night, a time and day of the week Henk’s is always closed. Local Dutch fans gathered in droves to watch both indoors and under the big tent on the Henk’s parking lot. The beer and brats sold well but the tension was high for the “knockout” game against Morocco. Lose and The Netherlands was done. The black & white photos below (shot with my Leica Q2Monochrom) captures some of the fun, passion and ultimate disappointment of the fans as the game finished tied but Morocco won on penalty kicks. Click on the photo thumbnails to see enlarged.