In the heart of Berlin, where the echoes of history intertwine with the vibrant pulse of modern life, Hertha BSC proudly stands as a symbol of tradition and passion. Founded in 1892, this historic football club, affectionately known as Die Alte Dame (The Old Lady), has become an integral part of German football culture. The club’s home, the iconic Olympiastadion Berlin, with its 74,475 capacity, is a sanctuary for fans who live and breathe Hertha, and pulls in football lovers from all over the Europe and the world.

Lifelong Hertha BSC supporter Lukas Wilke has dedicated recent seasons to capturing the essence of this unique fan culture, particularly on matchdays when the Olympiastadion comes alive with energy and emotion. Through his photos, Wilke immortalises the rituals, camaraderie, and deep-rooted love that define what it means to be a Hertha fan.

In this photographic series, Wilke pays tribute not only to the fans but also to a figure who personified the club’s spirit: Kay Bernstein. Bernstein, a former ultra fan who rose to become the president of Hertha BSC in 2022, was a beacon of hope for supporters disillusioned by the increasing commercialisation of football. His untimely passing in January 2024 at the age of 43 sent shockwaves through the football community, but his legacy endures.

Wilke’s evocative images are celebration of Hertha BSC and the unbreakable bond between the club and its supporters. It’s a story of heritage, passion, and the enduring spirit of Die Alte Dame.

“My name is Lukas Wilke. I come from East Germany and live in Berlin.  My club is Hertha BSC – Die Alte Dame (The Old Lady). My dad used to take me and my brother to the stadium. He’s always been a Bayern fan, but he’s also interested in Hertha, even if he doesn’t always want to admit it. Those are the first memories I have of the Olympiastadion Berlin and the club. Even if I can’t remember it all, I think it does a lot to you when you’re in such a huge stadium for the first time as a kid. I think it’s inevitable that you build up a certain connection to this place and this club.

Today, Hertha means almost everything to me. I’ve met a lot of cool people who share many of my views, even the political ones, which unfortunately isn’t always the case. I’m very grateful for that – you have to stick together and stand up to the fascists in the stadiums and everywhere else in the world. 

It’s simply the shared love for the old lady that unites the fans; People from all over the world come to games, to name one example, the Hertha Inters – a relatively large international group who are all Hertha fans. You meet up before or after the game, drink a beer and chat. We also meet up at away games. 

I got into soccer relatively early. I started at elementary school and fell in love with the game. Then unfortunately stopped later because there were more important things at the time, such as spending time with friends and alcohol… You wanted to party at the weekend rather than get up early and play soccer. Many of my friends do both – that’s how the county league works! But I definitely want to start playing again. I don’t have any real soccer idols. One player I fell in love with at the time was Änis Ben Hatira. A Berlin boy who had to put up with a lot of sh*t and had a huge heart for others. I think I’ve always liked people who are a bit different and don’t conform to the norm. Just characters. Kevin-Prince Boateng also comes to mind.

I don’t really have a concept when taking photos. I’m just a soccer fan with a camera. I think most of my photos are about the people themselves. You have all levels of society in the stadium. Berlin is for everyone – Hertha is for everyone. That’s exactly how it should be. I think that’s so wonderful. You meet so many different people every match day. It never gets boring. We all have different lifestyles but the moment we stand in the stadium and sing the songs together, we are all one. 

At Hertha we have a banner from the Ostkurve (east curve) that says: “We are the club”. That’s what it’s about. F*ck big money and investors. Just give me a beer, a bratwurst and the game!

Hertha BSC is the best example that money isn’t everything. So much money has been wasted for almost nothing. We fans just want the players to leave their hearts on the pitch and play football. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a big name or not. At the moment it’s finally fun to be a Hertha fan again. We have to thank Kay Bernstein for that, who has brought our club back to its roots as a president. It’s a tragedy that such a wonderful person died so early. We will continue to follow the Berlin way at Hertha. That was his vision. All the employees are doing a great job at the moment. Something is growing together here and you can see that.

I think my photos reflect that too. Simply the honest fan life. It’s about friendships, pubs and simply having fun. I think that’s so important and fundamental to soccer culture. Soccer must remain affordable, so that everyone can afford to watch the game. Be it in the stadium or via a streaming service. 

I’ve always taken photos, but it never occurred to me to do it football-related before. But it’s perfect. You can capture so many different emotions like hardly anywhere else. It’s incredible. Sometimes you celebrate after a game and sometimes you sit sadly on the train on the way home and know that the whole weekend is over because your club has lost.

We’re very familiar with that at Hertha. It’s an up and down of emotions.” 

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