‘Silver’ rowing Olympian and alumnus Sander de Graaf opens on TU/e campus largest student sports center in the Netherlands

The Student Sports Center at Eindhoven University of Technology, which has been thoroughly renovated and expanded, has been officially opened by, among others, brand new Olympic medalist Sander de Graaf of the 'Holland Eight'. With 12,500 square meters, 25 per cent more than before, the TU/e student sports center (SSCE) is now the largest in the Netherlands. The sports center has played a major role in the wellbeing of students and staff for decades, and in a revamped look it will serve even more as a central meeting hub.

The renovation was necessary, as the sports center had reached its limit in terms of membership with almost 14,000 members. Now, the SSCE can grow to a total of about 18,000 users.

In particular, the fitness area, which previously consisted of 3 different rooms, needed to be expanded due to growing membership interest, and has been more than doubled in square meters (from 560 m² to 1250 m²). Moreover, the three old fitness areas have been converted into a modern group exercise room, as well as a cycling and pole fitness studio.

A Body&Mind Studio, four new large changing rooms, and a new dojo for martial arts were also added.

In addition to a substantial expansion, the climate control systems have also been thoroughly renovated and brought up to current (gas-free) campus standards. Two large and wide corridors have been built (the North-South corridor and the East-West corridor), with the new reception area located exactly at the intersection of these two connecting hallways.

Accessible without a sports card

Most striking upon entering is the brand-new Student Sports Café. The luxurious 400-square-metre catering facility - now with a professional kitchen and numerous screens showing sports - is from now on also accessible without a sports card.

This was a deliberate choice as the catering venue has been transformed into a social meeting place where students and staff can meet, socialize, and even work remotely. “One of the first sports cafés in Eindhoven. Everyone is welcome there,” clarifies SSCE director Wim Koch.

He emphasizes how important the sports center is for socializing for both students and staff. “Here you can develop personally as a student, meet people, and make friends at one of the clubs. Sports is a social event, it speeds up the integration of internationals, for example,” says Koch, who stresses that as many as 60 per cent of current students own a sports card.

Today, sports instructors give an average of almost 500 hours of (group) lessons and training every week, while the SSCE has 37 student sports associations. 75 different sports can be enjoyed and experienced at the SSCE.

Physically and mentally healthy

TU/e president Robert-Jan Smits underlines the importance of sport and exercise for the well-being of students and staff. It is an important reason to invest in sports facilities on campus.

Smits: “I cannot emphasize it enough: sport and exercise keep you physically and mentally healthy. Partly due to high study pressure, students' well-being is increasingly under pressure. And the government's plans for a long-study fine unfortunately don't make things any better.”

He proceeds: “It makes the need all the more greater to ensure that students can clear their minds, let off steam, see each other, and gain new energy. And they can do exactly that here. The renovated TU/e-Student Sports Center Eindhoven, the largest in the country, will greatly enhance Eindhoven's reputation as the best student sports city in the Netherlands. I thank everyone involved in the successful renovation.”

Olympic medallist De Graaf said fine things about the sports center and TU/e during the opening event. He also showed his medal to the audience. "I would like to thank Eindhoven University of Technology and the sports center, because I was only able to achieve this because the association accepted me, because the sports center helped, and because at a higher level the university was thinking along. This allowed me to combine my top sports career and my master's degree in Mechanical Engineering."