Etienne Vaessen

Etienne Vaessen Burnet (born 26 July 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eredivisie club Groningen.^[2] Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Suriname national team.

Etienne Vaessen

Vaessen with RKC Waalwijk in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Etienne Vaessen Burnet[1]
Date of birth	(1995-07-26) 26 July 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth	Breda, Netherlands
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Groningen
Number	1
Youth career
	SAB
0000–2013	BSV Boeimeer
2013–2015	WSC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2024	RKC Waalwijk	196	(0)
2024–	Groningen	32	(0)
International career‡
2024–	Suriname	7	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 June 2025

Club career

RKC Waalwijk

Etienne Vaessen was born on 26 July 1995 in Breda. Initially playing at amateur level, he joined professional club RKC Waalwijk in 2015 at age 20.^[3] He made his professional debut in the Eerste Divisie for RKC on 12 August 2016 in a game against FC Emmen. There, he came on as a substitute in the 22nd minute for the injured Tamati Williams.^[4]

On 28 May 2019, Vaessen won promotion to the Eredivisie with RKC after a season finale showdown against Go Ahead Eagles, which ended in a 5–4 win.^[5]

Groningen

On 26 June 2024, Vaessen signed a three-year contract with an option for an additional year with newly promoted Eredivisie club Groningen.^[3][6]

International career

Vaessen was born and raised in the Netherlands, but has Surinamese roots via his grandfather with the name of Burnet.^[1] On 4 April 2024 Vaessen announced in an interview with ESPN that talks were ongoing with the Surinamese Football Association to play for Suriname on international level, following an interview with Suriname national team manager Stanley Menzo on 1 April.^[7]

Vaessen made his debut on 5 June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion, as Suriname won 4–1.^[8]

Personal life

Vaessen is part Amerindian descent, through his grandfather.^[9]

While working as a guard for MediaMarkt and playing amateur football in 2014, Vaessen was stabbed while chasing a shoplifter, leaving him hospitalised for days.^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 14 May 2025^[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
RKC Waalwijk	2015–16	Eerste Divisie	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2016–17		8	0	0	0	1	0	9	0
	2017–18		36	0	3	0	—		39	0
	2018–19		35	0	3	0	6	0	44	0
	2019–20	Eredivisie	24	0	1	0	—		25	0
	2020–21		0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2021–22		31	0	0	0	—		31	0
	2022–23		32	0	0	0	—		32	0
	2023–24		30	0	0	0	—		30	0
	Total		196	0	7	0	7	0	210	0
Groningen	2024–25	Eredivisie	32	0	0	0	—		32	0
Career total			228	0	7	0	7	0	242	0

International

As of match played 20 November 2024^[11]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Suriname	2024	6	0
Total		6	0

Honours

Individual

• Eredivisie Team of the Month: August 2024^[12]