Timeline: Cody Gakpo and Noa Van Der Bij's Emotional World Cup Journey Explained
The relationship between Gakpo and Van der Bij began in late 2020, during Gakpo’s breakout years in the Eredivisie. Unlike pairings forged under the artificial heat of celebrity circuits, their bond developed in Eindhoven, anchored by common roots and shared values. Gakpo, known throughout Dutch sports for his devout Christian faith and quiet discipline, found a stabilizing counterpart in Van der Bij.
Their family expanded meaningfully in the spring of 2024. On April 25, 2024, the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Samuël Seth Gakpo. The birth arrived during a frantic stage of Liverpool’s season, yet Gakpo credited fatherhood with providing essential perspective beyond matchday results. Van der Bij managed the daily demands of early motherhood while traveling periodically between Merseyside and the Netherlands to keep their extended families connected.
By early 2026, the couple represented one of the most stable domestic partnerships in Dutch sport. Their joint public appearances remained rare, reserved largely for trophy celebrations, charity events, and major tournament campaigns with the national team.
