Heracles Almelo is a Dutch professional football club based in Almelo, founded in 1903. The club’s current visual identity dates from 2015, when it introduced a new crest designed by Morskieft Ontwerpers, a Dutch design agency. The redesign was a collaborative effort involving representatives of the supporters’ associations, main sponsor Ten Cate, the club board, staff and club ambassadors. [1]
Design and History
The 2015 crest replaced a logo that Heracles had used since the late 1990s. The club announced the new mark on 29 May 2015, unveiling it at exactly 19.03 hours, a nod to the founding year 1903. [2] The new logo was introduced in phases, beginning on the day of its launch. [1]
The design features the name “Heracles” at the top of the crest in a bold typeface. The background is built on the club’s classic black-and-white stripes. The Greek hero Heracles, the club’s namesake, is depicted in the mark, given a central place in the design. The founding year 1903 appears prominently in the heart of the logo. [1]
The 2015 redesign also removed the city name “Almelo” from the crest, a notable change from the previous version. The club’s name had been extended to Heracles Almelo in 1998 at the request of the municipality. [2]
Meaning and Symbolism
According to the club’s official announcement, the new logo was designed to “bridge the past, the present and the future” of Heracles Almelo. [1] The Greek hero Heracles was chosen for his strength, inventiveness and endurance, qualities the club associates with its namesake. [1]
The crest incorporates the diamonds from the coat of arms of Almelo, placed subtly in the point of the logo. The clear blue colour represents the water that played an important role in the development of the region. [1] The black-and-white stripes in the background reference the club’s traditional home colours. [1]
Typography and Design
The club’s official description notes that the name “Heracles” appears at the top of the logo in a “powerful typeface”. [1] The design was created by Morskieft Ontwerpers, with the agency EPIC collaborating on the new visual identity. [3] [4]
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