Claudia van den Heiligenberg

Who is Claudia van den Heiligenberg?

Anna Gerarda Maria "Claudia" van den Heiligenberg is a Dutch footballer, currently playing for Ajax in the Vrouwen Eredivisie. She has won four league titles with Ter Leede and AZ.

She is a member of the Dutch national team, and played the 2009 European Championship. Her mother Meri van de Meer was also an international footballer.

In December 2009, then national coach Vera Pauw dropped Van den Heiligenberg and Dyanne Bito from the squad ahead of a match against Belarus. The decision proved controversial and it was reported that the duo were kicked out because they were in a relationship. Pauw angrily dismissed the claims, saying it was an insult to suggest they were excluded because of their relationship.

Van den Heiligenberg and Bito remained together and both were restored to the national team by incoming national coach Roger Reijners in 2010. A 2–0 win over Ireland in August 2010 was Van den Heiligenberg's 50th international cap. She was selected in the Netherlands squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013 in Sweden.