EURO 2024 news: Bitvavo robot to sign autographs of Dutch team

Fans no longer need to head to the pitch to score autographs thanks to our introduction of a specially developed robotic arm for EURO2024. The robotic arm will sign fans' football shirts with the autographs of their favorite Dutch players, and will be located in the official KNVB fan store at Utrecht Central Station. During the World Cup, team captain Virgil van Dijk topped the list of most requested autographs, followed by Frenkie de Jong.

Bitvavo brings the Dutch team and their fans closer together

"Bitvavo is KNVB's partner, and we were looking for a way to make that partnership tangible," says Marcel Ribbens, Head of Brand and Communication at Bitvavo. "We're all about Crypto and new technology, this is why we developed an innovative robotic arm that signs players' autographs. It's fantastic to see the fans queuing up to get an autograph from their favorite player. While the ultimate experience would be standing in front of your Dutch team hero, the reaction to the robotic arm has been very positive. From 10 June, the Dutch squad will be cut off from their fans, so getting an autograph during that period would have been impossible - well, now it's not!”

The Dutch team has been cut off from the outside world since June 10. The Bitvavo robot arm has programmed all the signatures of the Dutch players in the European Championship selection. This means that Dutch fans can still score an autograph from Denzel Dumfries, Virgil van Dijk, Tijjani Reijnders and Xavi Simons or any other player.

The initiative aligns perfectly with the KNVB motto "Create History". For fans who secure a signed shirt, it's a moment to remember, and a lasting memento of their Dutch heroes. Marcel Ribbens remarks, "With this autograph robot we bring the Dutch team and their fans closer together."

Official KNVB fan store at Utrecht Central Station

For the first time, KNVB has opened a fan store at Utrecht Central Station where the robotic arm will be featured in a prominent spot. The store welcomes visitors daily and admission is free. Fans have the option to either purchase a new shirt or can bring along a cherished one to be signed.

KNVB and Bitvavo extend partnership to 2026

Since March 2022, we have been a partner of Dutch football, alongside big names such as ING, Nike, KPN, Albert Heijn, and the Nederlandse Loterij. We have extended our partnership with KNVB until July 2026, and our focus will be on innovation, especially when it comes to enhancing the "Orange" experience.