‘Look,’ laughs fitness coordinator Job van Regteren while he proudly walks around the new room, ‘Isn’t this a beautiful location? Surrounded by nature but also centrally located between living and working areas on campus. We consciously placed the treadmills there for a reason.’ The fitness equipment is located in the farthest corner of the room, overlooking the new student complex Box and the promenade and the step and rowing machines next to them face the windows. ‘And there is no curtain that closes at night. All the glass makes for a very open atmosphere. What used to be a dead part of the campus is now full of life. Anyone can see what we do, all day long.’
On the other side of the room, near the entrance, are two brand new Kinesis fitness machines. According to Van Regteren, these are the cream of the crop. ‘These are top of the line! That’s why they are placed in front. How much do they cost? About ten thousand euros each. Yeah, we’ve also invested in the machines.’
Next to the assortment of fresh acquisitions there is a new entrance with a staircase, leading to the dressing rooms below. ‘I had to have this new part built. It was a real stumbling block, but in my opinion, it’s more about the whole philosophy. With the old entrance, you had to first go downstairs to change and then back up again. With the new entrance you can avoid having to walk through the central entrance hall and directly walk in your sports clothing to the fitness room just like with all the other connecting rooms.’
The fitness center took a long time getting here, says Van Regteren. ‘The cause? A precisely chosen trajectory and yes,’ he admits, ‘money issues also played a role.’ The remodeling project cost around five hundred thousand euros. Looking back, he is happy that it took this long. ‘We have a new face at this location and with an incredible view.’
The room is multi-functional with movable mirrors to screen off part of the room. There is ample room for medical fitness and sport-focused weight training. ‘Do you see the lines on the floor and the walls? Those obviously don’t belong here, but they connect the fitness center with the rest of the rooms in the Sports center. It forms a whole.’ A sitting area, a water cooler for fresh, cold water, plants and paintings on the walls complete the furnishings. Climate control is installed for a comfortable sporting temperature and there is now a front desk and office located at the former entrance. ‘Every day an instructor is present and the guidance should offer customers optimal services.’
The expansion, realized by the Vastgoed Groep Drienerlo, creates room in other parts of the Sports center. ‘We’re busy rearranging. The fencing hall and dojo downstairs will be moved to the former power sports room because that is now partly facilitated in the fitness room. The two freed up rooms will be multi-functional rooms for sports involving music like street dance, yoga, spinning and pilates. The modern and ballroom dance associations, Arabesque and 4 Happy Feet, will also make use of the space. The floor of sports hall one will be renewed and where the spinning bikes are installed, the power sports association Hercules will get a room to practice crossfit. The move created a single block out of the two floors. In essence, a complete package in a good setting.’
The new fitness room will be officially opened on Thursday, September 17. ‘But the gym is still currently open for business and we hope in the future to be open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to midnight, on Saturdays to 10pm, and on Sundays to 5pm. Everyone with an Xtracard can exercise here for free. No commercial gym can top that offer.’
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| The new fitness rooms will open on September 17. (Foto: Arjan Reef) |
