The Netherlands has a lot to offer when it comes to sports. The Dutch are active people, both in summer and winter time. Not only is it healthy to exercise regularly, it is also a great way to meet new people. As such, there are many different kinds of sports to choose from, so there is no reason to stay home and sit on the couch all day. There is something for everyone, from team sports like basketball, to martial arts and chess. If you are interested in joining a sports society, then browse through the different organisations affiliated to Dutch universities. Check out their pages for more information, and get exercising today!

One example of a student sports society is Odysseus '91. They are the only student soccer club in Utrecht and are the perfect place for you if you want to start, or continue, playing soccer. Besides sports they also provide many social activities, which makes it a great environment to meet new friends.

Badminton (SB Helios)
SB Helios is a badminton sports society in Utrecht. Should you not have a badminton racket but which to try and play with the team anyway, you can borrow one during a visit. They welcome all students, regardless of playing level. Read more...

 

Basketball (SBU)
Studenten Basketball Utrecht, a basketball society that believes in not only the sport itself but also the company and companionship you forge with friends and your teammates. It's more than competitive basketball, and organises many more activities outside of competition and training sessions.

 

Basketball (USBF)
The USBF is a basketball federation that has over 24 teams and has competitions internally. While there are no training sessions, every team participates in a competition every monday. They are not extreme competitors however, and believe in fostering a fun atmosphere around a main love for basketball and healthy competition. Read more...

 

Baseball (The Wombats)
The wombats are a relatively small base- and softball club, aimed at students and alumnis. They have two baseball teams, three softball teams and two men's softball teams.Next to training and matches the Wombats do much more together. And not only within the teams. Within their member base everybody socialises with each other. Members often watch each other's games, but they also can be found at the annual Baseball week at Haarlem. You will quickly get to know each other at the Wombats, and there is always something to do. Read more...

 

Boardsports (SPIN)
Spin is the first and currently the only boardsport society in Utrecht. Currently they have over 200 members, since their founding in 2004, creating a close knit but strong and passionate sports society. They also believing in having fun, while doing boardsports and making friends. Read more...

 

Climbing (USAC)
The Utrecht Student Alpine Club (or USAC) was founded in 1928. You can learn to climb and enjoy climbing at this society, and they have scaled the Alps in Belgium and also participate in climbing activities in the Netherlands.

 

Cycling (De Domrenner)
Living by the motto 'Enjoy the freedom being a student offers', this sports society believes in taking full advantage of what life can bring for students, and the freedom that it represents. They welcome students regardless of 'cycling level', and who simply believe in living life to the fullest. Read more...

 

Dance (STUdance)
Studance has classes in Jazz, Classical Ballet, Modern Dance and Hiphop, and welcome all students who are interested in dance! Other than such lessons, practices and workshops, they also have evenings where students can get together, mingle and form friendships with one another.

 

Equestrianism / Horse-Riding (V.S.R. De Solleysel)
Having been around since 1934, the VSR 'de Solleysel' has riding lessons as its main activity for members. Providing lessons for beginners as well as seasoned riders, all are welcome to learn horse riding! They also participate in riding competitions, and have friendly meet-ups as a sports organisations.

 

Equestrianism / Horse-Riding (USR Hippeia)
USR Hippeia has evening horse riding classes for students at student prices. The society also participates in competitions and have monthly meetings for its members where they can get to know one another better.

 

Floorball (USFV Jungle Speed)
With 2 mixed floorball teams, they participate in the 'Aspiring competition' in the Swiss variant. On top of practice, they also have monthly meet-up sessions at their cafe, Eigen Schuld, and also organise other activities outside of sports to get to know one another outside of the sport.

 

Gymnastics (U-turn)
U-turn is the one and only student gymnastic society in Utrecht. Next to gymnastics they also do other fun activities such as exchanges with other student gymnastic societies, student gymnastic competitions and other social activities. They are a young society, which has been founded in 2007. They currently have around 40 members. Read more...

 

Handball (HV Beertje)
Participating in national competitions, HV Beertje believes in healthy competition through the Netherlands and enjoy it. Like their namesake, they have an annual Beer-BBQ party and regular meet ups to strengthen the team's bonds as friends and to foster friendships.

 

Hockey (USHC)
USHC or Utrecht Student Hockey Club is a sports organisation that was founded in 1970 and has many teams, both male and female, and offer different levels of playing. They also participate competitively and do have meet ups outside of practices as an organisation.

 

Ice-Skating (USSV Softijs)
Softijs is a society of around 200 ice-skating, roller-blading and cycling students. It is founded for everyone who wants to learn how to ice-skate, but also for students with skating experience who want to compete with the Dutch student top. Training is given in 8 different groups, from beginners to pro, meaning you are able to ice-skate on your own level! Next to ice-skating there are also all kinds of events: camping, dinners, parties, and competitions. So if you enjoy a good atmosphere, or if you are the sporty type, everything is possible at Softijs!

 

Karate (O-Ki-Do)
O-Ki-Do is a Student Karate organisation formed in 1992, and train in the sports centrum Olympos in the Uithof. Other than weekly training, they have sake-night, film-night and have other such group activities to bond members as friends.

 

Kendo & Naginata (Sakura-Kai)
SSV Sakura-Kai is the only students sport society where kendo and naginata are practiced. They also organise the yearly Dutch Students Kendo Tournament. Membership is mostly for students, but highschool students and graduates also train there. Because of the student atmosphere of the society there is often a fun event organised, from movie nights to barbecues. The training nights are on Mondays and Wednesdays.

 

Korfball (USKV Hebbes)
Hebbes is the only student korfball society in Utrecht and was founded on April 16th of 1986 by an enthusiastic group of studying korfball players. They are a fast growing society who currently have 5 teams. Every year they organise the Domcup in the first year of February. The other korfball societies are invited and there are all sorts of activities. They also organise the Dutch Student Tournament on behalf of the University of Utrecht and the University of applied sciences Utrecht.

 

Lacrosse (Domstad Devils)
The Domstad Devils is a lacrosse club from Utrecht. They currently exist of one full men's team and one full women's team. They offer an introduction period each year, after the start of the academic year. You don't have to have any experience in the sport. All of the basics will be taught by them. It's a demanding sport however, as the matches are very intense. So most of their trainings will also be quite intense. The membership fee for a full year is 150 euros. Read more...

 

Rowing (U.S.R. Triton)
U.S.R. Triton is a rowing club in Utrecht that trains 3 times a week in the Loods. They welcome students who are new to rowing, and do not immediately train you in the water, so if you have a fear and wish to overcome it, here's the place to start!

 

Rowing (Orca)
The long history of Orca that bulging of hard rowing combines with 'fun' activities has led to today's Orca: A club that can compete with other associations at both national and international levels. Each year produces an Orca or more rowers to the Royal Dutch Rowing (KNRB). The many activities in conjunction with sports do that every year about 200 people join. Orca has a total of approximately 580 members and ensure that Orca is what it is.

 

Rugby for men (USRS)
USRS is open to all male students from university or HBO in Utrecht who are interested to play rugby with a dedicated society. They compete in competitions with 4 teams and also travel overseas to participate in competitions. Read more...

 

Rugby for women (RUS)
RUS is a ruby team that has been around since 1985, and has solid team of rugby players that have fun and trust each other. They welcome all female students regardless of experience with rugby as a sport or competitive level.

 

Sailing sports (U.S. Histos)
With over 400 members and 20 sailing boats in their own fleet, Histos is one of the biggest Sailing sports societies in the Netherlands. As Utrecht itself does not have much of a beach or waterbody to practice in, they do so in Loosrecht and Mulderzand. Like many other sports societies, they do have annual and monthly get-togethers, and parties to foster friendships outside of sailing itself.

 

Soccer (Odysseus '91)
Would you like to continue (or start ) playing soccer while studying abroad in Utrecht? Odysseus '91is Utrecht's one and only student soccer club! Over the past few years the club has grown explosively and we currently have 445 members. This makes Odysseus '91 one of the largest student sport clubs in the Netherlands. Read more...

 

Social Dancing (U.S.D.V. U Dance)
USDV U Dance is a relatively new student dance organisation that currently only teaches and practices social dancing. They conduct lessons for every level of dancing from beginners to advanced, and teach various types of social dances from English Waltz to Tango and Rumba. Read more...

 

Squash (US Beat It)
US Beat It is a young squash sports club associated with Utrecht University and it aims to create a squash community of enthusiastic students. They welcome foreign students regardless of skill level and do provide flexible membership arrangements to suit their needs. Aside from practice sessions they also arrange club get togethers such as parties and excursions. Read more...

 

Tennis (TC de Uithof)
Having been around for over 20 years, TC de Uithof is one of the biggest and more prominent sports societies in Utrecht. Tennis activities go on year-round, regardless of the weather and are available for anyone with any level of tennis experience. Read more...

 

Volleyball (USV Protos)
USV Protos has 17 male and female teams in total and while they do play competitively in national competitions, the team also plays to maintain a good friendly atmosphere for its players and organises more than just volleyball events to enable its members to mingle outside of the sport. Read more...

 

Volleyball (Van Slag)
Van Slag is the largest volleyball association for students in Utrecht, having 320 members. Van Slag is mainly a fun association. They play in mixed teams. A minimum of two ladies or a maximum of four gentlemen have to be present at the field. Apart from playing volleyball, Van Slag offers several parties and other activities organised by our various committees. In short, Van Slag is a lively mixed sports association, without commitments and ideal for busy students. Read more...

 

Swimming sports (USZ&WF het Zinkstuk)
USZ & WF Het Zinkstuk is a waterpolo and swimming team that tries to balance a fine line between having fun while playing waterpolo and playing competitively. Having been around since 1974, the society welcomes those who enjoy such sports as well as companionship from participating in sports as a team and a society. Read more...