Boxing in Groningen | Clubs, training and history

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Introduction

History of this sport

From Dutch titles to a Groningen club. According to Boxing Stad Groningen, Wim Gerlach became Dutch champion seven times and boxed at the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games. He founded Boxing Stad Groningen in 1989. The club continued after his death in 2007, with volunteers carrying on the club and its competitive boxing program.

Student boxing alongside club boxing. G.S.B.V. Pugilice describes itself as a Groningen student boxing association that has been active since 1980. Students can get started with technique and fitness, and also progress in the sport. This gives Groningen a student boxing scene alongside boxing schools for a broader audience.

A new generation in the ring and at the helm. According to the club, Quirijn Kroese became Dutch champion in 2016 and took over the day-to-day management of Boxing Stad Groningen that same year. The association now offers a range of classes for young people, beginners, and experienced athletes. Fight Team 050 and The Gym Lab are also listed as boxing venues in the city. Groningen boxing continues to be a story of different athletes, trainers, and training locations.

Local connections

Students and the city. Pugilice makes boxing part of student life in Groningen, bringing together classes, training, and club activities. Independent boxing locations also operate in the city. This gives students and other residents of Groningen the chance to find a training environment that suits their needs.

Different locations, the same boxing fundamentals. Boxing Stad Groningen, Fight Team 050, and The Gym Lab are registered boxing locations in Groningen. Their addresses are in different parts of the city. Gyms offering a wider range of martial arts may also hold boxing classes; check which classes are actually boxing at each location.

The city and the province are not the same. Boxing is also practiced outside the city of Groningen, for example elsewhere in the province. When choosing boxing training in Groningen, start with the class location, accessibility, and discipline within the city itself.

Martial arts facts

Student Boxing at Pugilice: 1980
Establishment of Boxing City Groningen: 1989
Wim Gerlach at two Olympic Games: 1960 and 1964

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Clubs and training locations

Training in this city

From your first class to the competition ring. Groningen has both a student boxing club and several boxing venues outside the university. At Pugilice, beginners and more experienced students take classes focused on technique and fitness. Boxing Stad Groningen, Fight Team 050, and The Gym Lab are also listed as boxing venues in the city. Compare their current class offerings before deciding where to start.

The basics of boxing. A training session usually builds on balance, footwork, defense, and controlled punches. Next come combinations, judging distance, and working with a partner. For recreationalists, technical training without competing can already be a complete sporting goal; those who want to sparren or compete in boxing need a suitable, gradual progression.

Pay attention to the discipline. Some gyms in Groningen offer kickboxing or MMA alongside boxing. These are different sports, each with its own techniques and rules. Ask which discipline is taught in the class you’re considering, whether there are beginner groups, and how trainers adjust the level of contact to your experience and goals.

Choose a club

Start with your own goal. Are you mainly looking for a technical boxing class, fitness training, or a path to competing? Not every class has the same goal. Ask clubs in Groningen what beginners can expect and whether you can take part without sparring.

Compare several locations. Pugilice focuses on students and lists an ACLO card as a requirement for participation. Outside student sports, Boxing Stad Groningen, Fight Team 050, and The Gym Lab are also listed as boxing locations. Check the current schedule, travel time, and class format; a location listing alone doesn’t tell you which class is right for you.

See how the class is taught. During an introductory session, look for clear instructions on footwork and guard, opportunities to ask questions, and clear agreements about contact. Ask how trainers group beginners and advanced students, and when partner work or sparring comes up. If a gym also offers kickboxing or MMA, make sure you sign up for an actual boxing class.

Choose something you can stick with. The right club combines good coaching with a schedule and location that work for you. So compare more than one option and make your choice only after an introductory session; no boxing gym in Groningen is automatically the best for everyone.

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Athletes with a connection to this city

Wim Gerlach at two Olympic Games. According to Boxing Stad Groningen, Gerlach became Dutch boxing champion seven times and competed in the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games. In 1989, he founded his own boxing club in the city. His competitive career thus continued in the Groningen training gym.

Quirijn Kroese: champion and club leader. Kroese boxed for years at Boxing Stad Groningen and, according to the club, became Dutch champion in 2016. That same year, he took over day-to-day management. He is therefore part of both the local competition history and the next generation passing the sport on in the city.

Another champion on the training floor. The current team page also lists coach Jack as a former Dutch boxing champion. The club does not give his surname or the year he won his title. His presence shows that competition experience within the coaching team is not limited to one person.

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Trainers with a connection to this city

Wim Gerlach and the founding of Boxing Stad Groningen. Gerlach founded the club in 1989. The club describes how volunteers continued its work after his death in 2007, with a focus on competitive boxing. This keeps the local coaching tradition going, from an Olympic boxer to a lasting training venue in Groningen.

Quirijn Kroese took over. In 2016, Kroese took over the day-to-day management of Boxing Stad Groningen. The team page lists him as owner and boxing coach. The club offers classes for different ages and skill levels, so beginners can follow a different path from those preparing for competitions.

A broader coaching team. Alongside Kroese, the team page names Jack, a trainer and former Dutch boxing champion, and Willem, a group class instructor. Group classes and personal coaching are therefore delivered by several people. For a new boxer, what matters most is how the coach explains and corrects technique, and guides them through contact levels.