Boxing in Nijmegen | Boxers, clubs, and history

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Introduction

History of this sport

Clubs and competitive boxers. Nijmegen’s boxing history includes more than one ring. N.A.B.A. is one of the city’s clubs. The city has also produced boxers who later passed their experience on to new athletes. Willy van Haaren started out as a young competitive boxer, became Dutch champion in the super heavyweight division several times, and went on to train boxers after retiring from competition. He also taught at the Radboud Sports Centre.

Boxing at the Honig factory. The Nijmegen Boxing Academy found a home in the old halls of the Honig factory. Beginners and advanced boxers trained side by side there, working on boxing technique and fitness. The sport thus found a new space in a building that had served a different purpose, while its connection to competition training and developing boxers remained.

A new generation of boxing gyms. Van Haaren and former amateur boxer Kemal Kirmiziyuz founded Boksfabriek Nijmegen together. Since 2022, people have been boxing in a former factory hall at the Vasim. Alongside these new spaces, clubs and other boxing venues throughout Nijmegen remain part of the city’s sporting landscape. The development of boxing in the city is therefore a story of different generations, spaces, and ways of training.

Local connections

Boxing spots across the city. Nijmegen’s boxing scene can be found in more places than one well-known boxing gym. N.A.B.A. is registered at Ploegstraat, The Boxing Arena at Tarweweg, and Boxing Bootcamp Nijmegen at Horstacker. Other places in the city also offer boxing. Together, these addresses make it clear that the story is not confined to one neighborhood or one gym.

Competition and coaching. Willy van Haaren’s career connects the competition ring with training new boxers. He was a multiple Dutch champion in the super heavyweight division and later also taught boxing at the Radboud Sports Centre. Nijmegen’s boxing tradition thus extends not only from club to club, but also from boxer to coach to student.

New uses for old buildings. The old Honig factory halls provided space for Boksacademie Nijmegen. Later, a boxing gym opened in a former factory hall at the Vasim. These industrial locations provide a recognizable backdrop to part of Nijmegen’s modern boxing history, alongside the club halls and other boxing venues the city already has.

Martial arts facts

Boxing academy in the Honig halls: Honey factory
Multiple-time Dutch boxing champion: Willy van Haaren

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Clubs and training locations

Training in this city

A city with several boxing venues. There are several places to box in Nijmegen. N.A.B.A. is a local boxing club; Sportschool Dynamo, Boxing Bootcamp Nijmegen, The Boxing Arena, Fittunit and de Boksfabriek also make room for the sport. This gives boxers different environments in which to train. Some are looking for the structure of a club, while others mainly want to work on technique, fitness or a competition path.

First, learn to move like a boxer. A solid technical foundation starts with stance, balance, footwork, guard and controlled punches. Next come combinations, timing and partner drills. These skills help beginners box not only harder, but more consciously. Not every training session has to involve contact: bag work and technical drills can also be done without sparring.

From recreational training to the ring. Boxing can be a way to stay active, but it can also be a sport in which someone wants to develop as a competitive boxer. In that case, progressing from technique to sparring and competitions is important. Young members and adult beginners also need different kinds of coaching. These differences are what make Nijmegen’s boxing scene broader than just one type of class or one gym.

Choose a club

Start with your goal. If you’re looking for a boxing club in Nijmegen, start by asking yourself what you want to get out of the sport. Do you want to learn the basics, follow a regular fitness program, or eventually compete in boxing? Those are different paths. Check what classes each club actually offers, what level they’re intended for, and how someone with no boxing experience can get started. A packed training schedule doesn’t mean much if the class you’re looking for doesn’t match your goal.

See how they provide coaching. Ask how trainers teach stance, footwork, punches, and defense, and when partner drills or sparring are introduced. If you’d rather train without physical contact for now, check whether that’s an option. If you want to gain competition experience, ask how they guide members from technique training to sparring and competitions. During a visit, pay attention to the explanations, the attention given to new members, and how the athletes treat one another.

Compare the day-to-day experience. The best class is one you can attend regularly. So compare the location, current training times, group structure, and what you need to take part. Ask about a trial class or observe a training session first. That way, you can see whether the pace and atmosphere suit you and ask questions that a timetable won’t answer.

Choose only after experiencing the club. A club’s name or a well-known history may spark your interest, but it doesn’t determine what your training will be like. Compare several places on the same points: does the class suit your goal, do you get clear guidance, and can you keep training there with enjoyment? That way, you can make your own choice without automatically placing a Nijmegen club above another.

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Athletes with a connection to this city

Willy van Haaren: from competition to coaching. Van Haaren grew up in Nijmegen’s working-class neighborhoods and competed in boxing from a young age. He became Dutch super-heavyweight champion several times. After his active career, he began training boxers and became one of the leading figures in Nijmegen boxing.

Kemal Kirmiziyuz: the ring as a starting point. Kirmiziyuz boxed as an amateur before founding Boksfabriek Nijmegen together with Van Haaren. As head coach, he passes on his experience to athletes in the city. His place in this story is that of a former boxer who also helps shape Nijmegen’s boxing scene beyond his own competitions.

Graham Newton: competitive boxing and a new role. Newton competed for Boks Team Gelderland and placed second at the Senioren A Championships. Later, he returned to the sport at Boksfabriek and began learning the coaching profession there. His connection to this page is through the Nijmegen boxing club; he is not presented as a native of Nijmegen.

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Trainers with a connection to this city

Willy van Haaren and Kemal Kirmiziyuz. Van Haaren gave up his own competitive career to train boxers. Together with former amateur boxer Kemal Kirmiziyuz, he founded Boksfabriek Nijmegen. The two combine competitive experience with boxing training for a wide range of athletes.