Heemskerk Living His Dream With FC Den Bosch
4/16/2015 2:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
DEN BOSCH, NETHERLANDS. – Ever since he can remember, former College of Charleston standout goalkeeper Kees Heemskerk wanted to be a professional soccer player.
Now, at just 23 years old, Heemskerk is living out his life-long dream as the starting goalkeeper for FC Den Bosch, a second-division club in his native Netherlands where Heemskerk' s performances have been gaining attention and respect around the country.
“It's been a fantastic experience so far,” said Heemskerk from his home in Den Bosch. “I'm doing what I've always wanted to do – I couldn't be happier.”
A native of Zaandam, Heemskerk first made a name for himself within soccer circles at a young age, while playing as a member of the famed Ajax youth academy in Amsterdam. Ajax, one of the most revered clubs in all of Europe and winners of four European Cup/ Champions League titles, is equally well-known for its steadfast development of some of the best young players in the world. Within its youth set-up, known as De Toekomst (The Future, in English) Ajax has continually produced some of Holland's brightest emerging stars – of which Heemskerk is no exception.
In 2010, Heemskerk made the bold decision to shed the comforts of his more famous club confines, choosing instead to put his talents to use across the Atlantic, committing himself – alongside fellow Ajax youth academy product Daan Brinkman – to the maroon and white of the College of Charleston. Weathering a new climate, culture and approach to the game, Heemskerk was nothing short of superb during his time at The College, starting all four seasons, earning all-conference honors on three occasions and playing almost every minute of every game until being sidelined his senior year with a back injury.
Following the completion of his senior campaign, Heemskerk quickly turned his attention to the professional landscape. After impressing at the MLS Players Combine and earning a stint in the Norwegian second division, Heemskerk – on the final day of his Norwegian contract – was then offered a professional contract with Den Bosch.
It was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
“This is a great fit for me here in Den Bosch,” said Heemskerk. “I was disappointed after not being selected in the MLS Superdraft and my time in Norway was a good cultural experience, but ultimately I wasn't enjoying my time on the pitch there as much as I would have liked. Here, I got a chance to prove myself and to become the starting goalkeeper for a team that has produced some big players (including former Dutch legend Ruud Van Nistelrooy). It has been a tremendous experience.”
After spending the first ten games of the season on the bench as the back-up, Heemskerk finally got his opportunity, and not surprisingly, the former CofC team MVP didn't disappoint, earning a clean-sheet in his first career start.
Since then, Heemskerk has solidified his place as the team's undisputed No. 1 between the sticks, something both he and his family are enjoying.
“One of the best parts about playing here in Den Bosch is the close proximity to my family,” said Heemskerk. “Charleston was a long way away from where I grew up, but now I'm only an hour's drive from my family and my Dad gets to come to every game.”
For both Heemskerk and Den Bosch – who currently sit 14th in the league table and average about 3,000 fans per home match–, the future is clearly bright. However, even now, while living out his dream in the stratospheric ranks of European soccer, Heemskerk reflects fondly on his time in the lowcountry:
“I miss it, I really do,” said Heemskerk. “The College helped shape me. I moved there from a different country when I was 19 years old and it took me in and made me the person I am today. It made me strong and it will always be a very special place for me.”
