Sports in Groningen for internationals

Who are you?

• ✈️Exchange studentHere for a semester: the ACLO rate, what to do in five months.
• 🎓Degree studentThe ACLO card and the student sports associations.
• 🔬PhD or university staffACLO or SPR, and what your partner can use.
• 💼Working hereClubs, gyms and pay-per-visit, without ACLO.
• 👨‍👩‍👧Here with childrenSports clubs for kids and the Dutch swimming diploma.

This week

Real classes in the coming seven days, at clubs where internationals are welcome and open classes for beginners.

At clubs where internationals are welcome

• Today17:45 Klassiek ballet midden niv 18+/volwDance · Balletschool Wanda KuiperInternationals welcome Go together
• Tomorrow20:45 Classical ballet basic/beginners. internationalsDance · Balletschool Wanda KuiperClass for internationals Go together

Open to everyone, beginners welcome

• Saturday09:00Stadspark parkrun5 km run, walk or jog · Stadspark · freeEvery week
• Today19:00 MaandaggroepRunning · Groningen AtletiekTrial possible Go together
• Today19:15 Trimzwemmen beginnendSwimming · Groninger Zwemvereniging TriViaBeginners welcome Go together
• Today20:00 Langzwaard Beginners + RekrutenMulti-sport · MARS - Vechtschool voor middeleeuwse krijgskunsten Noord-NederlandTrial possible Go together
• Today20:15 Maandagavond recreanten publieksuurIce skating · STV EemsmondTrial possible Go together
• Tomorrow18:30 Beginners DinsdagDance · Dansschool PendulumTrial possible Go together
• Tomorrow20:30 Dames WeerbaarheidstrainingMartial arts · Go SmartsTrial possible Go together
• Wednesday18:00 Dance FitnessFitness · RhythMotion Dance FitnessTrial possible Go together
• Wednesday19:30 BasistrainingCanoe & SUP · Groninger Kano VerenigingBeginners welcome Go together

Class pages open in Dutch, as the clubs publish them; your browser can translate them. “Go together” starts a group in English that others can join.

Your first week

1. Do something this Saturday. Stadspark parkrun: a free 5 km run, walk or jog at 9:00, coffee at the finish. Register once on parkrun.com and bring your barcode.
2. Try something without a membership. Pools, bouldering halls and padel courts work per visit, and many gyms sell a day pass.
3. Student? Get the ACLO card, or a day pass first. Staying less than half a year? Mind the rate (see the costs below).
4. Pick a club and ask for a trial. Use the email below. Most clubs let you train along a few times for free.
5. Don't go alone. Join or start a group in English on Sport together.

What it costs

One semester or a whole year: what each option costs in total, with registration fees and minimum terms included.

Totals for training once a week (17 or 52 visits) where you pay per visit. Prices checked in October 2026 on the providers' own sites.

Sport by sport

Where to go for the sports internationals ask about most, for everyone and for students.

🌍 = the club says internationals are welcome, or many members are international. Not listed? Every sport has an English page: all sports.

On the map

Internationals welcomePay per visit or freeACLO (students)

Clubs for internationals

Only clubs that say so themselves, or that ESN Groningen describes this way. “Internationals welcome” doesn't mean everything is in English: at many clubs the language is still Dutch, especially in the clubhouse.

Classes in English

• Open Yoga

  Classes in English

  One of the teachers gives classes in English. Source: openyoga.nl

Open to everyone

• Balletschool Wanda Kuiper

  Internationals welcome

  English-speaking students are welcome, and there is a classical ballet class for beginners for internationals. Source: wandakuiperballet.com

• V.V. Mamio

  Internationals welcome

  A football club for adults of all levels where international players come together. €200 a year, or €100 for training only. Source: vvmamiogroningen.nl

• Gronical Dizziness

  Internationals welcome

  Ultimate frisbee: mostly Dutch members, but also many from abroad. Students can start with a free five-week course via ACLO. Source: ACLO

Student associations (ACLO card needed)

• Tandje Hoger

  Internationals welcomeStudents RUG/Hanze

  Student cycling association with an English section for internationals and a welcome course for beginners. Source: tandjehoger.com

• G.S.R. Aegir

  Internationals welcomeStudents RUG/Hanze

  Student rowing club: all students are welcome, including international students. Source: gsraegir.nl

• G.S.S.V. Donar 1881

  Internationals welcomeStudents RUG/Hanze

  Fencing: about half of the members are international. Normal sportswear is enough for a first training. Source: ESN Groningen

• V.V. Kroton

  Internationals welcomeStudents RUG/Hanze

  Volleyball: a third of the members are international, and the club is open to non-members too. Source: ESN Groningen

• GSIJV The Bulldogs

  Internationals welcomeStudents RUG/Hanze

  Ice hockey: male and female students of all levels, from all over the world. Source: ESN Groningen

• De Groene Uilen-Moestasj

  Internationals welcomeStudents RUG/Hanze

  Basketball: calls itself internationally oriented, with teams at almost every level and a training-only option. Source: ESN Groningen

• G.S.P.V. De NoordPole

  Internationals welcomeStudents RUG/Hanze

  Pole dance: weekly classes at your own level, for Dutch and international students. Source: ESN Groningen

• G.S.R.C. (rugby)

  Internationals welcomeStudents RUG/Hanze

  Student rugby club with a growing number of international members; exchange students also play for half a year. Source: gsrc.nl

• De Mattekloppers

  Internationals welcomeStudents RUG/Hanze

  Jiu-jitsu, systema and judo: members from all over Europe, beginners on the same mat as competitors. Source: ESN Groningen

Easy to try first

• G.S.T.T.V. Idéfix. Table tennis: up to three trainings for free, Monday and Wednesday evening.
• SSV The Blue Toes. Salsa and ballroom: the first two classes of a course are free.
• G.S.Z.V. De Golfbreker. Swimming: join three trainings without obligation.
• Northside Barbell. Strength training: a trial training, then about €8 a month.
• G.S.V.V. Veracles. Volleyball: beginners are welcome; email to join a practice.

Student associations as described on ESN Groningen. You need an ACLO card to join them.

Working here, or here for love

ACLO and the student associations are not for you, but everything else is. Regular clubs welcome adults of every age, and many have recreational groups that don't play in a league.

• Football: V.V. Mamio, where international players come together. €200 a year, €100 for training only. Played abroad in the last three years? You need an international transfer.
• Ultimate frisbee: Gronical Dizziness, with many members from abroad.
• Cricket: Phoenix Cricket Club Groningen, founded in 2023, plays at Sportpark Kardinge.
• Gyms: compare 11 gyms on price per month, registration fee and how short the contract can be.
• University or Hanze staff: SPR, €10 a month, with the ACLO facilities. PhD and staff

Meet other internationals

• IWCN (International Welcome Center North) organises regular events to meet other internationals.
• City Central connects new residents with locals and helps you learn some Dutch.
• The Facebook group Expats in Groningen has nearly 8,000 members who share tips.

Don't go alone

Rather not go alone the first time? Start a group in English for a class, a run or a padel court, and others can join you.

Sport together Start a group

The year in sport

When to join, and what Groningen offers each season.

1. August
   • KEI week, the introduction for new students (mid-August).
   • The ACLO card for the new academic year goes on sale (from 10 August).
2. September
   • Most clubs start their season; student associations hold introduction weeks. The easiest moment to join.
   • Kardinge ice hockey hall opens for public skating (12 September).
3. October
   • The 400-metre ice track at Kardinge opens (10 October).
   • 4 Mijl van Groningen, the city's big running event (second Sunday of October).
4. November – January
   • Indoor season: halls, pools, bouldering and the ice rink.
   • When it freezes hard enough, people skate on natural ice around the city.
5. February
   • Second semester: a new ACLO semester card from 1 February, and new course periods.
   • Good moment to start if you arrived in January.
6. March – April
   • The ice season at Kardinge ends (21 March).
   • Outdoor sports pick up again: running groups, rowing, cycling.
7. May – August
   • Open-air pool De Papiermolen opens (May to mid-September).
   • ACLO summer card from 1 May; many clubs pause in July and August.

How Dutch clubs work

At a club (vereniging) you pay a fee per season, you can usually try a few times first, and members help out now and then, for example with a bar shift. Team talk and the “third half” in the clubhouse are often in Dutch: join anyway, that's where you get to know people.

Hi,

I recently moved to Groningen and I'd like to try [sport] at your club. I'm [a beginner / have played for … years].
Could I join a trial training? And is the training in English or in Dutch?

Thanks!
[Your name]

Hoi,

Ik ben net in Groningen komen wonen en wil graag [sport] proberen bij jullie club. Ik ben [beginner / speel al … jaar].
Mag ik een keer meetrainen? En is de training in het Engels of in het Nederlands?

Groet,
[Je naam]

Words you'll hear at training

Mag ik een keer meetrainen?

Can I join a training once?

Ik ben beginner.

I'm a beginner.

Spreek je Engels?

Do you speak English?

Proeftraining

Trial training

Contributie

Membership fee

Warming-up

Warm-up

Nog één keer!

One more time!

Rust

Rest / break

Kleedkamer

Changing room

Derde helft

Drinks in the clubhouse after the match

Bardienst

Bar shift (a volunteer task)

Wie doet er mee?

Who's in?

More: how sports clubs work