Orange Army invades Germany: First of 100,000 Dutch fans head to Dortmund ahead of Euros semi-final clash against England

An Orange Army has begun invading Germany ahead of the crunch game between England and Holland tomorrow evening - with almost 100,000 Dutch fans expected to travel.

And for the first time since the European Championships started, England supporters are set to be significantly outnumbered when Harry Kane and his team kick-off their match in Dortmund.

Because it's under 50 miles from the Dutch border to the city - about the same distance between London to Brighton - tens of thousands of Dutch fans are expected at the game even though most have no hope of getting a ticket.

Whereas England fans will have to rely on expensive flights, long car journeys and trains and then face paying over the odds for hotel rooms and tickets in the middle of the working week - so far fewer are expected to turn up for the match.

MailOnline today monitored the beginnings of the orange invasion - in which almost 90,000 Netherlands fans are expected to converge in Dortmund.

We headed to the border town of Aalten, one of the first Dutch and German Schengen crossing points, where many residents are on the move.

Among them was restaurant manager Loes Oonk, who has decorated the front of her home with a giant Dutch flag with the lion emblem.

She will travel the 60-minute journey from Aalten, which has a population of just 27,000, with seven friends for tomorrow's match in a mini bus.

'It is very easy for us to reach Dortmund, but not so easy for the English supporters. I think it will give our team an advantage to have so many people in orange shirts in the stadium to support them.

'Maybe the English will have to work and will not be able to come in so many large numbers because of their jobs, but we will be able to come home the same evening from Germany.

'The match is the talk of Holland. We are also excited and really looking forward to it. Everyone is talking about it in this town too and getting their flags and orange shirts ready. Football is very important in the Netherlands, just like it is in England.

'My favourite player is Virgil van Dijk who plays for Liverpool. I think he will be a very important part of the game for us.

'I think we will beat England. My prediction is that we will win 2-1, but the match will be in extra time.'

Across the street from her home, businessman Raymond Stegers, 63, had installed flags and bunting in orange as well as a giant Dutch flag.

Mr Stegers, who wore an orange hat and scarf in support of Holland, said: 'It is going to be a tough match for both sides.

'England have great fans, but so does the Dutch team. I know that there are many people from the border towns going to the game because it is so easy for us.

'I think it will be 2-2 at full-time and then we will win. I hope in extra time. I pray that it does not go to penalties, because we are not so good at them.'

The staunch Feyenoord fan, who has travelled to England to see Holland play and regularly goes to matches, added: 'I have seen on the television that the English have had incredible support in the stadiums. They have nearly filled them and really love their team.

'But because of the proximity of Holland to Germany, it will be like having an extra player because we will have so many fans more than the England supporters. We will make a lot of noise and sing for our team.'

Local publican Wilco Leuven said: 'There are many people from Aalten going to the match with England to Dortumnd. But my bar will be full because many will come to watch it on the TV.

'It is going to be a very busy night in the bar. Maybe the Dutch team will hear our cheers from here!'

Librarian Babs Vroegindewry said: 'I am not so confident as others who live here. The England team is very strong and I think we may lose this game.'

But her friend Juan Lammers, 59, said: 'We have a very good player in Cody Gapko of Liverpool. I think it will be a wonderful match and everybody here is both anxious and excited. I hope Netherlands are the victors.'

It is reported that upwards of 50,000 Dutch supporters will be inside the BVB Stadion Dortmund, which has an 81,000 capacity, for the match - outnumbering England fans who have been allocated just 6,500 tickets. 

That means around 35,000 ticketless Dutch fans are set to mix with thousands of England supporters without tickets on the streets of Dortmund.

The build-up to the match has seen tickets, accommodation and airline prices surge amid increased demand, with many people facing paying thousands for their journey.

Prime seats - those situated by the halfway line - have been listed for as much as £17,000, while the cheapest seats up in the gods, which usually go for around £70, are barely available for less than £600, an increase of nearly 1,000 per cent.

For many of the Netherlands' matches during the tournament, the host city has been packed with Dutch supporters filling up fan zones in their iconic orange livery.

Many of the Dutch fans are planning to gather before kick off and proceed on an 'orange march' to the stadium, letting off flares and singing for their team.

West Ham fan Barry Hunt, 24, from Dagenham, who has been to three of England's matches and arrived in Dortmund last night said: 'It looks like Holland fans will have it their way on Wednesday.

'A lot of my mates have to work on Wednesday or have run out of money on the first games. My granddad gave me £500 so I could come to this match. 

'I don't have a ticket and I am trying to buy one, but I want to be here singing with the England fans and drinking the beer. We will win.'