sport
Pickleball Community Grows to 30 Players at Amsterdam's De Pijp Weekly
A growing community of roughly 30 players of all levels gathers weekly at the Lizzy Ansinghstraat facility, with open sessions every Sunday and Thursday drawing in newcomers and seasoned athletes alike.
How we reported this
The biggest sports story in De Pijp this July isn't a championship run or a transfer saga-it's the steady, low-key rise of pickleball at Sportcentrum De Pijp. Every Sunday afternoon, the venue at Lizzy Ansinghstraat 88 hosts open pickleball sessions that include drills for beginners followed by open play. Paddles and nets are provided, and there is no mandatory membership. The group, registered as Pickleball Amsterdam, draws roughly 30 players ranging from 2.5 to 4.0 skill levels.
Why it matters now
In a city where traditional club sports require lengthy commitments and often have waiting lists, pickleball offers an alternative. The Thursday "sportinstuif" drop-in from 20:00-22:00 already includes badminton, volleyball, table tennis and pickleball, with a conditioning session beforehand at 19:00. For many in De Pijp-a mixed neighborhood of students, young professionals and families-these sessions eliminate the usual barriers to entry. There are no tryouts, no membership fees and no need to bring your own equipment.
That flexibility has particular resonance in the Netherlands, where public high schools do not sponsor sports teams. Students participate through external clubs, and those in De Pijp regularly attend physical education classes at Sportcentrum De Pijp. The facility's two 48×23-metre halls, which schools book through the city's online 'Sportverhuur' system, are also home to three badminton clubs and two volleyball clubs, plus youth basketball and ultimate frisbee training. Pickleball fits into that ecosystem without competing for space or resources.
A facility built for variety
Sportcentrum De Pijp is the neighborhood's primary indoor sports hub. Its two large halls have permanent markings for korfball and hockey, and can host up to nine badminton courts or three to four volleyball courts per hall. That versatility allows the center to run multiple programmes simultaneously. On Tuesdays from 17:30-19:00, Amsterdam Ultimate holds youth division training at Sporthal De Pijp with an open sign-up policy-no prior email registration required. Queer Badminton Amsterdam, a social and competitive LGBTQ+ league, meets on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays specifically in De Pijp.
Recent reports indicate the City of Amsterdam has significantly increased rental prices for sports facilities. Individual rates have doubled and association rates have risen sharply for the coming season. It is not yet clear how those increases will affect the pickleball group's operating costs or whether the city plans to adjust the booking fees for the drop-in sessions.
What happens next
For now, Pickleball Amsterdam's schedule remains unchanged. The Sunday afternoon sessions start with drills for newer players, then shift into open play. The Thursday slot is folded into the broader sportinstuif, which runs from 20:00-22:00 and includes multiple sports. Anyone in De Pijp can show up with a pair of trainers and a water bottle; the paddles and nets are already there.