Kees Mijnders 1912 – 2002

Biography

Kees Mijnders was born on September 28, 1912, in Eindhoven, a city in the southern Netherlands that would become known for its industrial heritage and sporting tradition. Growing up in this vibrant community, he developed a passion for football that would come to define much of his life. His early years coincided with a period of growing enthusiasm for the sport throughout the Netherlands, and he became part of a generation that helped establish football as a central part of Dutch culture.

Throughout his life, Mijnders pursued football as his profession, contributing to the sport during a formative era in Dutch athletic history. He lived through extraordinary times—spanning two world wars and the subsequent transformation of the Netherlands—yet maintained his connection to the game he loved.

Kees Mijnders passed away on April 12, 2002, in Dordrecht, at the age of 89. He left behind a legacy as part of Dutch football’s early professional era, having witnessed and participated in the sport’s evolution from its amateur roots to a more organized and celebrated pastime. His long life allowed him to see football grow from a local pursuit into a passion that united the nation.