Why would a soccer club in the Netherlands dedicate its new jersey to a Peruvian saint? The answer lies in the 17th century, when the people of Sittard entrusted their city to the intercession of St. Rose of Lima during a deadly epidemic.
Fortuna Sittard, a team in the top tier Dutch Eredivisie league, unveiled its new away jersey for the 2026–2027 season as a tribute to the city’s patron saint, whose devotion has remained alive for more than three centuries.
“The deep burgundy color directly refers to the rose, the saint’s symbol. In addition, the design incorporates a subtle rose pattern that reflects the rich history of St. Rose and the special bond between the patron saint and the city of Sittard,” the club said on its website.
The uniform’s details also evoke the Peruvian saint. The typography used is inspired by the architecture of the Chapel of St. Rose in Sittard; the jersey numbers are surrounded by thorns, alluding to her iconography; and an image of the saint appears on the back of the shirt above the player’s name.
But behind this design is a story of faith and gratitude that remains alive in the Dutch city.
The promise that changed the city’s history
In 1669, a deadly epidemic spread through the Limburg region. Fearing that the disease would devastate the city, the Dominican friars of Sittard—who had served as missionaries in Peru and knew of Rose of Lima’s recent beatification—encouraged residents to entrust themselves to her intercession.
The city council promised that, if Sittard were spared from the epidemic, they would proclaim St. Rose of Lima as its patron saint, build a chapel on the city’s highest hill, and make an annual pilgrimage there.
According to local tradition, the city was preserved from the disease, and its residents fulfilled their promise.
In 1675, the Chapel of St. Rose was built on Kollenberg Hill, a site that has since become one of the city’s main symbols.
“Today, St. Rose is the best-known patron saint of a city in the Netherlands. Sittard continues to honor her legacy, especially during the St. Rose Festival, held every year on the last weekend of August,” the club noted.