Sports play an important role in the lives of the Dutch, many of whom are avid sports enthusiasts. Not only do many people in Amsterdam enjoy supporting local and national clubs and teams, but they also take part in the activities, participating at all levels, in a wide variety of sports that are available for the public to enjoy around Amsterdam. You may wish to check with your local town hall (gemeente) for specific sporting clubs and activities in your immediate area, or ask business colleagues with similar interests if they know about – or participate in – sports clubs (sportverenigingen) that might appeal to you.
The Amsterdam municipal council also provides contact details for 80 different kinds of sporting activities in Amsterdam. While some selected points of sport-related interest are listed below, you may wish to visit the relevant website: http://www.iamsterdam.com/
Fitness Centres
Sportcentrum Amstelpark
Koenenkade 8
Tel: 020-3010700
Also has facilities for tennis and squash plus a beauty salon and solarium.
http://www.amstelpark.nl/
Sport City
Offers personal-training, solarium and pilates.
08:30 – 23:00 (sometimes opens at 7:00, check online for more detailed opening hours)
Jodenbreestraat 6, Tel: (020) 626 26 22
amsterdamwaterloo@sportcity.nl
and
Wibautstraat 224, Tel: (020) 46 55 666
amsterdam@sportcity.nl
Golf
There are very few golf courses in the Netherlands, in part due to the small size of the country, and in part because the low lying geography does not make for interesting golf course design. Note that most of the Netherlands is almost entirely flat. Since much of the Netherlands consists of small fields of land reclaimed from the sea and surrounded by dykes, it is difficult to find a suitable piece of land large enough to enclose a golf course. Nonetheless there are a few excellent golf courses in the Netherlands.
The main golf season is July to September. Although courses are open at other times, the playing conditions may be not be as good as during the summer months.
Amsterdamse Golf Club
Bauduilaan 35
Tel: 020 497 7866
http://www.amsterdamsegolfclub.nl
This is an 18 hole golf course that is open to the public. It also has dining facilities and a resident professional. This is the only golf course in the vicinity of Amsterdam.
Midgetgolf Amstelpark
Amsterlpark 2b
1083 HZ Amsterdam
An 18-hole mini golf course that is in the ambient, sporty and social atmosphere provided by Amstelpark. The course is ideal for family fun, and it also is one of the few opportunities to play an 18-hole course in Amsterdam – if you need to work on your short game, this might be a perfect place for you as well.
Tennis
Sportscentrum Amstelpark
Koenenkade 8 (Amsterdam Bos)
1081 KH Amsterdam
This sports complex offers 21 outdoor and 11 indoor tennis courts that are available for renting to anyone, even those who are not members of the club. It is also possible to reserve time with a trainer and to rent equipment, such as rackets, for the time that you play on the courts at this facility. You are also able to reserve a “contract court,” which means that you can decide to reserve a court at a specific time on a certain day for the entire season.
Amstelborgh/Borchland
Offers outdoor and indoor tennis courts, squash courts as well as badminton courts.
Borchlandweg 6-12
1099 CT Amsterdam/Duivendrecht
Phone: +31 (0)20 56 333 33
Frans Otten Stadium
This is a sport complex that offers tennis and squash courts, aerobics, fencing and dance amongst other activities. The complex also includes a restaurant and bar.
Stadionstraat 10
1076 NL Amsterdam, Zuid
Phone: + 31(0) 206628767
Swimming Pool
There are multiple public swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor, around Amsterdam. Outdoor pools are typically open from May to September, and the hours vary widely, so it is best to check the individual locations for their agendas. At many public swimming facilities, there are certain times that are reserved for specified groups of swimmers, such as children, women and nude.
Marnixbad
Marnixplein 9, Centrum
tel: 020-625-4843
http://www.hetmarnix.nl
This sports complex contains 2 indoor pools, enclosed by glass. The facility also offers a sauna and a whirlpool.
Mirandabad
De Mirandalaan 9
1079 Amsterdam
tel: 020-5464444
http://www.mirandabad.nl
This is one of the most popular public swimming facilities in Amsterdam. It offers indoor and outdoor pools, a stone beach, a wave pool, water slides and a whirlpool. There is also an amusement park and squash courts located within the complex. Nude swimming is also an option during specified times.
Yoga
Yogayoga
Amaliastraat 5 (2nd Floor)
Amsterdam Westerpark
1052 Amsterdam
http://www.yogayoga.nl/
Yoga classes are offered in English, and they range from beginner to advance. Classes are also offered specifically for pregnant women.
Studio Asana
Droogbank 11
1013 CG Amsterdam
http://www.studioasana.com/
This studio offers classes at all levels, as well as sessions for children and individuals above the age of 50. The studio also organizes workshops in Amsterdam and in Silves, Portugal.
Soccer
As you might notice, in Amsterdam it is extremely common for footballers and fans of the sport to enjoy this game on the many outdoor fields around the city, as well as in the various large public parks that offer wide open green spaces for games among friends, family and colleagues alike. There are also various clubs for football fans of different ages and skill levels that are offer indoor and outdoor facilities to those who are interested in pursuing the sport at a more serious and perhaps more competitive level.
OSV (Oostzaanse sport vereniging) Amsterdam
Sportpark Oostzanerwerf
Oostzanerdijk
Amsterdam
tel: +31-206311476
http://www.osv-amsterdam.nl/
This club has 35 junior teams and 10 senior teams, and some teams play games on Saturdays and Sundays.
