Athletics

Athletics are not practised frequently in the Netherlands, but there are some athletic clubs. The most common type of athletics is running, but people do this mostly on their own.

Eindhoven Region:

• PSV Atletiek
  J C Dirkxpad 1, Eindhoven

Maastricht Region:

• Maastricht Atletiek
  Vleeshouwersdreef 6, Maastricht

Baseball/honkbal

Baseball is not very popular in the Netherlands, but there are a few ‘honkbal’ clubs (see below).  

Eindhoven Region:

• Honkbalclub Nuenen
  Amandelpark 108, Eindhoven

• PSV Honkbal
  Roostenlaan 307 C, Eindhoven

Maastricht region:

• Honkbalclub Maastricht
  Negenputruwe 3, Maastricht

Cricket

Cricket is not very popular in the Netherlands. That is why a lot of the club websites and information are in English. Expats who can play cricket are welcomed with open arms!

Eindhoven Region:

• PSV Cricket
• Son Cricket

Maastricht Region:

• Heerlen Cricket club

Golf

Golf is growing increasingly popular in the Netherlands. A few years ago, golf was a thing for the happy few, but nowadays also the man in the street plays golf. There are more and more golf clubs coming up.

Eindhoven Region:

• Golfclub Welschap
  Welschapsedijk 166, Eindhoven

• G&CC Tongelreep
  Charles Roelslaan 15, Eindhoven

• Best G&CC
  Golflaan 1, Best

Maastricht Region:

• GC Maastricht
  Dousbergweg 90, Maastricht

• Maastricht international golf
  Dousbergweg 90, Maastricht

Hockey

Hockey is another popular sport in the Netherlands, even more popular than in many other countries. You will therefore find a hockey club in nearly every city.

Eindhoven Region:

• EMHC
  Charles Roelslaan 7, Eindhoven

• Oranje zwart
  Charles Roelslaan 13, Eindhoven

• HCE
  Marathonloop 5-7, Eindhoven

Maastricht region:

• Maastrichtse Hockey Club
  Olympiaweg 23, Maastricht

Horse riding

In the Netherlands, horse riding is a very common sport, especially for girls. Many Dutch girls have done some horse riding sometime in their life. Nearby every major city in the countryside are farms where horses are kept. In Dutch, you call this a ‘manege’ (riding stables/riding school). For horse riding facilities in your area, check your community or telephone guide under ‘manege’.

Eindhoven Region:

• Eindhovense Manege
  Roostenlaan 309, Eindhoven

• Sonniushof
  Sonniuswijk 35, Son

Maastricht region:

• Manege Cadier en Keer
  Dorpsstraat 55, Cadier en Keer

• Hagenbeck Stables
  Kersboomkensweg 66, Wijnandsrade

Ice Skating

To do professional outdoor ice-skating, you do not need to join a community or club. Outdoor ice-skating in the Netherlands means skating on natural ice. The winters in the Netherlands can be very cold, with long periods of very low temperatures. When this happens (less and less frequently, sadly enough for the ice-skaters), all the lakes will freeze over so that people can skate on them. In principal, you can skate on all frozen waters but watch out that you do not pick one that has not entirely frozen over yet. Look around in your neighbourhood what your neighbours do and ask them for places where you can go ice-skating. Better be safe than sorry!

When it has been freezing hard for a long period (a rare occasion nowadays), a speed skating contest and leisure skating tour is organised in the Province of Friesland (in the north of the Netherlands). It is called the Elfstedentocht (in English: the Eleven Cities Tour). The tour is almost 200 km in length and has to be completed within in one day. For safety reasons, the ice must be (and remain at) a minimum thickness of 15 centimetres along the entirety of the course. It is conducted on frozen canals, rivers and lakes between the eleven Frisian cities of Leeuwarden, Sneek, IJlst, Sloten, Stavoren, Hindeloopen, Workum, Bolsward, Harlingen, Franeker, Dokkum and finally again Leeuwarden.

During the Christmas holiday, there is a small, nice, and romantic ice-skating rank on the Vrijthof in Maastricht. You can rent skates at the rank, and enjoy some warm red wine and snacks.

Soccer/football

Football is one of the most popular sports in the Netherlands. Almost every neighbourhood has its own football club. To find one in your district, just ask around. Below is a list of clubs.

Eindhoven region:

• WVVZ
  Atletieklaan 1, Eindhoven

• Unitas
  Anconalaan 1, Eindhoven

• VV Acht
  Amstelstraat 1a, Eindhoven

Maastricht Region:

• RKSV Leonidas
  Schippersdreef 48 D, Maastricht

• VV de Heeg
  Maastrichterweg 7, Maastricht

• VV Standaard
  Toustruwe 10, Maastricht

Swimming

There are many places where you can have a swim in the great outdoors. Every city has areas with natural swimming water. In summer, these ‘beaches’ are very lively with lots of people and music. They will surely give you the real holiday feeling.

Eindhoven Region:

• Aquabest
  Ekkerweijer 1, Best

• E3 Strand
  Buivensedreef 10, Eersel

• IJzeren Man
  Javalaan 149, Eindhoven

Maastricht Region:

• Daybeach Oost Maarland
  Oosterweg 5, Maastricht

Tennis

Tennis is a very popular sport in the Netherlands. There are tennis clubs in every city. In general, you have to be a member of a club to be able to play outdoor tennis. A few tennis clubs where you can hire an outside court even if you are not a member are listed below.

Eindhoven Region:

• Vrijetijdscentrum Best
  De Maas 6, Best

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