Nationale Sportweek runs 18 to 27 September with free trial sessions

From 18 to 27 September, ten days in all, sports clubs across the Netherlands open up trial lessons, open training sessions and workshops, most of them free and taking all ages. NOC*NSF coordinates it, but the programme is assembled locally, with places like Amstelveen, Assen, Zoetermeer and Doetinchem each publishing their own booklet and sign-up page.

Dutch sports clubs mostly charge by the season, paid once for the year, which is a different kind of bill from a month-to-month commercial gym. So the real use of these ten days is to measure one number: the annual membership divided by the number of times you will genuinely turn up, which gives you the cost per visit. The denominator is the hard part, because most people overestimate it, and this is the week that lets you test it under real conditions. How long is the ride from your house. Does the training slot land just before the school pick-up. Can you follow a session run in Dutch. Estimate the denominator after putting those three through a real evening and it will be far closer than anything you guess at home.

There is an extra layer for anyone recently arrived. Dutch clubs are member associations rather than places you buy a service from, and on many teams the social part happens in the hour at the bar after training. Staying for that hour on your trial night tells you more about whether you will keep going than ten pages of the club's website. Note the sign-up point as well: free does not mean turn up unannounced, and the popular sessions usually want you registered on the local page first.Source 1

• The dates are Friday 18 September to Sunday 27 September, ten days in total.
• NOC*NSF coordinates it while the actual programme is compiled and published municipality by municipality.
• The content covers trial lessons, open training, challenges and workshops, mostly at no cost.
• It is open to every age group and not restricted to existing members.
• Dutch clubs generally charge a seasonal membership, which bills differently from a monthly commercial gym.
• Popular sessions normally require registering on the local sign-up page, with limited places.

Hokimi tip: before signing up, check how many minutes the bike ride actually takes. The fee is almost never why people stop going; the journey is.

Where

Sports clubs nationwide, with programmes published municipality by municipality

When

Ten days, opening on a Friday and closing the Sunday after

Price

Most sessions cost nothing

Booking

Popular sessions need registering on the local sign-up page

Note

Free does not mean turn up unannounced, and places can fill in advance.