14x Populair student sports

Everyone knows student sports clubs throw the best parties. Honestly, that's reason enough to join one of Eindhoven's student sports clubs. But the sport itself is actually a pretty good idea too. All that partying, combined with a diet of instant noodles, pancakes, and fried snacks, isn't great for your body. So get out of your room, avoid packing on extra kilos, make new friends, and get in shape so you can party all night long. Not sure which sport fits you? No worries: we'll help you choose!

Pro tip: ask for a trial lesson. That way, you'll immediately know if the sport suits you.

Volleyball at Tamar or Hajraa

Volleyball's a game where the ball flies in every direction. You need lightning-fast reflexes, solid teamwork, and sometimes you have to dive across the floor just to keep that ball off the ground. That makes volleyball one of the best ways to smash out your study stress. Eindhoven doesn't have just one, but two student volleyball clubs: Hajraa and Tamar. Which one's right for you depends on your schedule: Tamar only plays matches on weekdays, perfect if you head home on weekends to do laundry at your parents' place. Hajraa, on the other hand, saves the real action for the weekend. Every year, Hajraa organizes Europe's largest grass volleyball tournament, pulling in players from neighboring countries as well as places like Romania and Canada. Either way: fun training sessions, exciting tournaments, and drinks that go on late into the night – both clubs deliver on that.

Hockey at Don Quishoot

Volleyball players know how to smack a ball around, but hockey players take it up a notch. All very controlled, of course. But since the ball flies across the field at serious speed, a hockey match can get pretty intense. Whether you're already skilled or have never held a stick in your life, you're more than welcome at Don Quishoot. The whole club plays on Sundays, and one of the teams throws a themed party afterward at their clubhouse, Paviljoen. That means dancing with a cold beer in hand, but also eating together. Twice a year, they throw a bigger party that draws students from all over Eindhoven.

Soccer at Pusphaira

First things first, so you don't embarrass yourself at the club: Pusphaira is pronounced 'poos-fai-ra'. It's soccer, Greek style. Name and pronunciation aside, this club is all about playing soccer, and at Pusphaira you'll do that at least twice a week. Sundays are marked in permanent marker on the calendar, because that's game day. Even if you lose 11-0, you're guaranteed to win the 'third half' (the party after the match). You've probably guessed it already: alongside the hard work on the field, they party just as hard off it. The club's eighteen committees make sure there's always something to do beyond soccer, and you can pitch in too, from organizing club nights and cooking for your teammates to planning ski trips. Plenty of options to find your thing.

Rugby at The Elephants

Did you get a lot of yellow cards in team sports for playing just a bit too rough? Then rugby club The Elephants is perfect for you – it's all about pushing, pulling, and some tactical bumping. The club is a lively mix of people, from locals to newcomers and from serious rugby players to total beginners. You'll build muscle, improve your fitness, and give your social life a boost. On the first Thursday of every month, there's a club night at La Route, and the rest of the year you can join city trips, ski trips, and the highlight of the year: the beach rugby tournament on Ameland, a Dutch island in the north. New to the sport? No problem. An intro course teaches you the basics and introduces you to the other 'young pups', as they call themselves.

Ice skating at E.S.S.V. Isis

Ice skating looks smooth and simple until you actually step on the ice yourself. At student ice skating club Isis, you'll learn to channel your inner Irene Wüst or Sven Kramer – in case those names don't ring a bell, they're two of the Netherlands' most famous speed skaters. Strap on your skates and head to the ice rink on Antoon Coolenlaan in Eindhoven-Zuid, in the south of the city. Whether you're a complete beginner or can already skate laps without falling over, there's a group for every level. You'll even learn to sharpen your own skates, and afterward you warm up together with a cup of hot chocolate (a splash of alcohol is optional). Once a year, the club heads abroad for a training camp, to places like Collalbo or Zakopane. In summer, they keep a full schedule too, with inline skating in Philips de Jonghpark and cycling together with cycling club Squadra Veloce (more on that later). At Isis, they're also always up for a drink, a party, or a barbecue, so your social life won't be neglected.

Ice hockey at Icehawks

Would you rather chase a puck than skate laps? Then ice hockey club Icehawks is the place for you – on that same ice rink on Antoon Coolenlaan. Not exactly a star on the ice yet? No problem, you'll learn the tricks of the trade (and how to handle the hard checks) on the rookie team. That doesn't mean it's a gentle game: the Hawks play to win and have been national champions several times. Thinking, 'sounds nice, but I just want to try it once'? Come to the try-outs at the start of the season. And you can simply rent your gear, so you don't have to spend a fortune right away. Off the ice, the Hawks plan plenty of weekend trips, and they gather for drinks at their regular bar, Dugout, on Stratumseind, Eindhoven's main nightlife street.

Cycling at Squadra Veloce

You already met them briefly in the skating section: cycling club Squadra Veloce, who Isis members ride with in summer. With about 250 members, this is one of Eindhoven's larger student sports clubs, and also one of the easiest to spot – you might see them racing through the city in their confetti-print jerseys in black, blue, and orange. Members cycle year-round, from beginners to seasoned riders, with track sessions on Tuesdays and road rides on Thursdays. Then there's the social side: on the second Wednesday of every month, the cyclists hang out in their blue-and-orange jerseys at the bar of their regular spot, De Cyklist. They close out the season with a gravel ride that ends at Wiro-Wok and, inevitably, on Stratumseind. New to cycling? A loaner bike and helmet are ready so you can try it out first.

Tennis at Fellenoord

By far the largest student sports club in Eindhoven is Fellenoord, where students from Fontys (a university of applied sciences) and TU/e (Eindhoven University of Technology) hit the court, from beginners to competitive players. You don't need to know anyone to join, either: on the Wednesday club night, pairs are often formed on the spot, so you might end up hitting balls with your future best friend. Highlights of a year at Fellenoord include ski trips, outings to tennis tournaments like Roland Garros, and their own open tournament, where a 'secret artist' shakes things up. And if that's not enough, every year they travel to various student tennis tournaments. Off the court, Fellenoorders hang out at their regular bar, Miller Time, which is also, not coincidentally, where they kick off every season with a party.

Swimming and water polo at Nayade

Ready to dive into student life? Then swimming and water polo club Nayade is the place for you. All the teams share one passion: winning. On weekends they play competitive matches, and at national and international tournaments, they show what they've got. They train just as hard as they party – the beer pong tournament is a tradition everyone looks forward to every year. Want to work on your swimming technique? Sign up for the technique training sessions and improve your freestyle, breaststroke, or maybe even master the butterfly.

Bouldering at Monk

Not a student club, but a sport that's extremely popular with students: bouldering. In Eindhoven, that means Monk, on Strijp-S. It's a workout that doesn't just build rock-solid leg muscles, but also enough grip strength to carry two crates of beer home from the supermarket without breaking a sweat. There's no suit-and-tie culture here, just a casual spot where the only gear you need is climbing shoes. On Friday and Saturday nights, it's packed with students, which might have something to do with the nice student discount on those evenings. Done climbing? Join the drinks at the bar, or fill up your plate at one of the many barbecues Monk organizes.

Boxing and kickboxing at Impact

Jab, hook, low kick: remember that sequence and you've got the basics of a solid combo down. Eindhoven Student Association Impact can obviously explain it much better than we can. In training, you'll punch and kick your way to better fitness. And outside of training, there's plenty going on, from a beer in the canteen after training to proper drinks nights and sports galas. Once a year, they go all out with Brace for Impact, their own boxing and kickboxing tournament, where you can step into the ring yourself or just watch from the sidelines. Which leaves us with just one question: are you team Rico or team Badr?

Handball at Oktopus

The training schedule at handball club Oktopus is simple: practice on weekdays, followed by a cold beer at the bar. They take that second part seriously – their own club song describes them as 'a big crew running on nothing but alcohol'. Never played handball? No worries, it's a sport anyone can pick up right away. Want to do more than just play? Join a committee and help organize tournaments, parties, or the yearly end-of-season barbecue.

Dance at Footloose

Two left feet? That doesn't matter at all at Footloose. Your student years are the time to try new things. Maybe you're a natural talent, and if not, an enthusiastic amateur is just fine too. From modern jazz, ballet, and hip-hop to salsa and ballroom – at Footloose, you can go in any direction. Every other Wednesday evening, they organize a dance night where you can show off your new moves from training. Zouk, kizomba, and line dancing also make an appearance that night. If you really get into it, you can join the yearly show at Parktheater.

Basketball at Tantalus

Time to pull your Air Jordans out of the closet and sign up for Tantalus. At this club, you'll find students from all corners of the world, perfect for making your social circle a lot more interesting overnight. But of course, it's also about the sport. And at Tantalus, they take that seriously, with three training nights a week and matches on weekends. After the final whistle, they often keep the party going. Stratumseind is a regular stop, along with fun basketball events, weekend trips, and, to close out the year, the annual black-tie gala. From sweatband to bow tie, basically.

Extra tip: unique sports locations

Looking for something different? From kicking a ball around at Sportpark Strijp to free running or working out at Philips Stadion: discover more great sports locations and activities.