Sports and hobbies

The Netherlands prides itself on being a sporting nation and the view is that everyone should have the chance to participate in a sport. You will, therefore, find a wide range of sporting activities suitable for all ages and abilities. Football, tennis, golf, speed skating, field hockey, and fitness training are among the most popular sports, along with swimming, cycling and running. 

In the Netherlands, playing a sport is not just a healthy activity, but also a social one. Sports clubs and organizations regularly organize parties, gatherings, and other social activities. 

Brabant hosts a variety of major sporting events, such as the ASML Eindhoven Marathon, which is held in the second weekend of October each year. More than 35,000 participants take part in the marathon, which also has shorter distances for children, and a crowd of around 200,000 line the route to cheer on the runners.

Brabant also has several professional sports teams. The best-known team in the Eindhoven area is PSV football team, winner of many trophies at both national and European level. Founded in 1896, Willem II is Tilburg’s professional football team, and Breda is home to NAC Breda. PSV also has a successful women’s team who play in the Eredivisie.

If you love to watch sports, keep an eye out for bars and other local venues that screen major sporting events. You can also check out your municipality’s website or local news websites for more information.

There are good sports facilities in the region, including municipal swimming pools and an ice-skating rink. There are also many non-commercial sports clubs (sportverenigingen), as well as several commercial providers. 

Fitness, hiking, swimming, running, and cycling are all popular, and the region also has much to offer in other sports, including track and field (atletiek), basketball (basketbal), cricket (cricket), dance classes (dans), gymnastics (turnen), handball (handbal), ice hockey (ijshockey), taekwondo (taekwondo), and water sports (watersport), to name just a few. Everyone is welcome, from young to old, from beginner to top athlete, and from competition player to recreational participant.

Membership fees at a sports club are usually cheaper than at a commercial provider, since clubs are run by volunteers. The Board members, the person behind the bar, and the trainer on the field, are often all volunteers. When you join a club, always ask whether you are expected to volunteer or whether there is anything you can do for the club. With a commercial provider, you usually pay a bit more, but you are not expected to volunteer.

With many open water areas in the Netherlands, the ability to swim is particularly important. The Dutch National Water Safety Council Foundation (NRZ) aims to “boost water safety to the highest possible level for the entire Dutch population.” 

Dutch children typically start swimming lessons at an early age and follow the foundation’s national swimming diploma program (Swim ABC), which provides them with all the necessary skills to survive and move around freely in different kinds of water. Safety plays a key role in the program, and the focus is not only on learning the different strokes, but also on things like swimming under­water. 

There are three levels of diploma, starting with the A diploma, followed by the B diploma, and then the highest, the C diploma. With a C diploma, children meet the National Standard for Water Safety. For more detailed information, see the NRZ website which has information in English and also a list of affiliated swimming class providers. Most schools also organize swimming lessons as part of the curriculum for a year.

Baby swimming lessons are also popular. Check out your local swimming pool for more information.

Those older than 18 can also get their swimming diploma. The Nationaal Zwemcentrum de Tongelreep in Eindhoven offers lessons for adults, including those who have a fear of water. For more information, see Eindhoven sport. 

Eindhoven Sport, the sports department of the municipality of Eindhoven, can help you find all you need to know about how and where to participate in sports in Eindhoven. Visit their Eindhoven sport and choose a sport or hobby websites to find out more about sports clubs and sport facilities in the Eindhoven area. You can also contact Eindhoven Sports coordinator Saskia Reuhman at saskia.reuhman@eindhoven.nl.

And remember to take a look at the municipality’s This Is Eindhoven website for more sports ideas in Eindhoven, from weightlifting in the Philips Stadium to working out in a church

The municipalities of Tilburg and Breda have similar sports sections on their websites.

Budding musicians are well catered for with plenty of places to learn and improve their skills. Every town and village has its own muziekschool (music school) and it is also common to arrange private music teachers for lessons at home through your school or by word-of-mouth. Visit This is Eindhovenfor ideas of music schools in Eindhoven. 

Theater, dance and musical enthusiasts can also find a home. Visit CKE.nlfor a large range of courses or check out the International Theatre Collective Eindhoven (ITCE). 

There are lots of clubs and courses for other hobbies too! From scouting to art, and from flower arranging to board games, you are sure to find something for your chosen hobby. It is worth remembering that some social clubs also have special interest groups, where members can meet up with others who share their interests. International Women’s Club Eindhoven (IWCE), for example, offers lots of options, including book clubs, cooking groups, and hobby and chat. Visit our Find a social club page for more ideas. You can also find more ideas at the Municipality of Eindhoven's  website.