Rotterdam’s commitment to inclusive, dynamic and future-proof sports environments takes center stage at Olympia sportspark together with HC Feijenoord and beyond.
On a bright day in Rotterdam, the tour of Olympia Sportspark offered more than a glimpse into a state-of-the-art sports complex. It revealed a vision for how cities can build inclusive, sustainable and multifunctional spaces where both elite performance and community spirit thrive. Located in a vibrant corner of the city, Olympia Sportspark isn’t just a park of pitches and tracks, it’s a living ecosystem of six diverse sports clubs, innovative infrastructure concepts and meaningful partnerships that serve the community at large.
Since its opening in March 2018, Olympia Sportspark has grown into a multi-sport powerhouse. With five football fields, two field hockey fields, an athletics facility and a recently added urban skills court, the complex accommodates everything from football to American football, athletics to field hockey. The venue even features a roof that doubles as public stands, an example of thoughtful design that reflects its core purpose: openness and accessibility.
Guided by Martijn van der Linden, product specialist at Sportbedrijf Rotterdam, visitors were introduced to the day-to-day workings of the sportspark. A full-time manager coordinates usage and mediates between clubs, ensuring fair access while maintaining the identity of each club. Weekends are dominated by league matches, weekdays filled with training sessions and during off-hours, individuals from the neighborhood are welcome to use the grounds through open-access slots. The facility uses an hourly rental model instead of traditional long-term contracts, offering flexibility while optimizing resources.
Yet, Olympia is not standing still. With plans underway to renovate the track and field section and refresh two soccer fields, the park is looking to the future. One of the most exciting developments is the flexible clubhouse concept. Inspired by LEGO bricks, the concept features modular units of 16 square meters that can be configured into physio clinics, changing rooms, social spaces and more. These sustainable, low-maintenance structures aim to transform sports parks into daytime hubs, accommodating non-sports functions like education, culture and entrepreneurship. A public tender has been launched to bring this vision to life, with the city owning the buildings and renting them to a variety of users.
This seamless integration of structure, flexibility, and vision sets the perfect stage for the kinds of clubs that embody Rotterdam’s social and athletic heart such as HC Feijenoord, one of the six sports clubs housed at Olympia.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, HC Feijenoord represents a story of sports-driven social change. Founded with the mission of bringing field hockey to Rotterdam’s southern districts, where football traditionally dominates, the club has grown into a thriving community of 456 members across nearly 30 teams. Yet its ambitions stretch far beyond the scoreboard.
“... a living ecosystem of six diverse sports clubs, innovative infrastructure concepts and meaningful partnerships that serve the community at large.”
HC Feijenoord is a club that stands for accessibility and inclusivity. It serves a diverse population, many of whom have never had the chance to experience field hockey before. The club’s outreach is impressive: it has introduced hockey during school hours to over 1.400 children from ten schools, runs after-school training sessions at multiple venues and welcomes children from across the city through its “Hockey Hub” program. What happens off the field is just as impactful. On set dates, around 100 to 135 club members gather for a low-cost communal dinner, an event that deepens bonds between players, parents and volunteers.
This commitment to connection also extends to groups often left out of organized sport. For over a decade, HC Feijenoord has run adaptive field hockey programs for individuals with disabilities. It has also launched traineeships for young talent, certified 36 youth referees and supported coaches through a structured 20-week development program. Their goal is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where young people not only play, but coach, organize and lead.
As a Sport+ certified club, HC Feijenoord is part of a network of about 30 organizations in Rotterdam recognized for their contributions to societal wellbeing. The Sport+ label isn’t easily earned, it’s granted after an independent assessment and signals excellence in community engagement. For HC Feijenoord, it means access to support, networking opportunities and the ability to grow programs like their new classes, which introduce movement to children at a very early age.
Despite its achievements, the club is still in growth mode. It has set a clear goal: 600 members by 2026, with a focus on improving member retention and supporting young players as they transition into coaching roles. The club remains flexible in the face of neighborhood change and demographic shifts, ensuring it remains a welcoming space for new and longtime residents alike.
One challenge it shares with Olympia is the impact of scheduling, especially since many competitions only take place on weekends. This creates pressure on available space. Still, the combination of smart facility planning, creative programming and committed partnerships means both Olympia Sportpark and HC Feijenoord are well-positioned to thrive.
Together, the stories of Olympia and HC Feijenoord illustrate the power of infrastructure meeting identity. One offers cutting-edge space and operational flexibility; the other brings culture, heart and purpose. They demonstrate that a sports facility is more than a field, it’s a launchpad for personal growth, social cohesion and community resilience.
Martijn van der Linden product consultant @ Sportbedrijf Rotterdam
Bjorn Geelhoed
chairman @ HC Feijenoord