How sports clubs work in the Netherlands
Sport in the Netherlands is mostly organised in clubs. Here's how that works, and how to get started in Groningen if you're new.
Clubs
Team sports like football, hockey, volleyball and korfball are played at a club (vereniging). A club is run by its members, often with volunteers, and you pay a membership fee (contributie) per season or year. You train once or twice a week with a team at your level, and most clubs also have recreational groups that don't play in a league.
Most club sports follow a season from September to May or June. Joining at the start of the season is easiest, but many clubs welcome new members during the year too.
Many clubs ask members to help out now and then, for example with a bar shift or by driving to an away match.
Try before you join
Most clubs let you train along once or a few times before you decide. Ask for a proeftraining. If you don't speak Dutch, email the club in English and ask whether the training is in English too.
No membership needed
Swimming pools, bouldering halls, padel courts and bowling lanes work per visit: you buy a ticket or book a court, and that's it. Many gyms and yoga studios also offer a day pass or a multi-visit card.
Gyms
Gym memberships often come with a registration fee and a minimum contract of a year, and a notice period of about a month when you cancel. Compare the price per month with what you pay in the first year, and check whether there's a flexible option.
Students
Students and staff of the University of Groningen and Hanze can get a sports card from ACLO, the student sports centre at Zernike Campus. For students it costs €79,95 a year. It gives access to courses and classes, and you need it to join a student sports association.
Words you'll meet
- Vereniging
- A sports club run by its members, often with volunteers.
- Lid / lidmaatschap
- Member / membership.
- Contributie
- The membership fee, usually per season or per year.
- Proeftraining / proefles
- A trial training or trial class, often free.
- Inschrijfgeld
- A one-off registration fee.
- Opzegtermijn
- Notice period for cancelling a membership or gym contract.
- Seizoen
- The season, for most club sports from September to May or June.
- Strippenkaart
- A multi-visit card, for example 10 classes.
- Dagpas / losse les
- A day pass / a single class.
- Beginners / instroom
- A group for beginners or new members.
Help with the costs
Families with a low income can get help with sports fees for children through the Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur. Residents of the municipality with a low income can apply for a Stadjerspas, which gives discounts on sports.