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Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city where martial arts are part of the urban sports and cultural landscape. The combination of historic gyms, various training schools, and a broad talent pool gives the city a distinctive place in Dutch martial arts.
Amsterdam Southeast

Amsterdam Southeast is a district of the municipality of Amsterdam that lies separately from the rest of the city as an exclave. It covers 22.08 km² and consists of Bijlmermeer, Venserpolder, Gaasperdam, and Driemond. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), approximately 82,000 people aged 12 and over lived there in 2025.

In martial arts, Bijlmer is particularly well known. Kickboxer and trainer Lucien Carbin founded Fighting Factory Carbin there, where Tyrone Spong, Alistair Overeem, Gilbert Yvel, Ilonka Elmont, Andy Ristie, and Sergio Wielzen trained, among others. According to Wikipedia, Carbin produced 49 world champions.

Tyrone Spong grew up in Bijlmermeer and later became, among other titles, a Glory champion. Ilonka Elmont was made an honorary citizen of Amsterdam Southeast in 2001. Remy Bonjasky, Rob Kaman, and Gilbert Yvel are also mentioned among the well-known people from Bijlmer. Today, Taekwon-Do Kkamagwi, among others, teaches ITF Taekwon-Do at Kantershof.

© Photo by Nuray from Pexels

At a glance

Country NETHERLANDS  Netherlands Region North Holland
Gyms 78 Fighters 11 Trainers 1 Events - Venues 3 Organizations 0

Introduction

FightBase story

About this city

Amsterdam has a visible and historically important martial arts culture. Kickboxing, Muay Thai and MMA come together there in a network of gyms, trainers, local initiatives and talent development.

FightBase story

Overview

Amsterdam as a martial arts city

The reputation of Amsterdam is closely linked to the development of Dutch kickboxing. The city brought together training environments where boxing technique, kicking technique, forward pressure, and intensive competition preparation reinforced one another.

This foundation also gave rise to strong connections with Muay Thai and MMA. The martial arts culture is supported by gyms, trainers, athletes, local organizations, and public events that together form a lasting infrastructure.

Amsterdam Southeast: District of Amsterdam

Amsterdam Southeast is a district of Amsterdam that does not share a border with the other districts. It encompasses the Bijlmermeer, Venserpolder, Gaasperdam, and Driemond and has Amsterdam's largest Surinamese community.

Amsterdam Southeast: Birthplace of kickboxing champions

The Bijlmer is known in martial arts for Fighting Factory Carbin, the school founded by Lucien Carbin. Among others, Tyrone Spong, Alistair Overeem, Gilbert Yvel, and Ilonka Elmont trained there.

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Geography and character

City, neighborhoods and martial arts culture

Amsterdam's martial arts culture is closely connected to its urban structure. Gyms grew within local communities and brought athletes from different neighborhoods and cultural backgrounds together.

The proximity of different training schools strengthened exchange, rivalry and cooperation. This created an urban network in which tradition, technique and new sporting pathways coexist.

Amsterdam Zuidoost: Exclave with four neighborhoods

Zuidoost covers 22.08 km² and consists of Bijlmermeer, Venserpolder, Gaasperdam and Driemond, as well as office and entertainment districts. The district is accessible via metro lines 50, 53 and 54 and the NS stations Duivendrecht, Bijlmer ArenA and Holendrecht. Almost 50,000 people from more than 150 nationalities live in Bijlmermeer.

Amsterdam Zuidoost: Social challenges

According to the Amsterdam City Report, Zuidoost has the lowest average disposable income of all districts, at €41,339. The proportion of residents who describe themselves as happy fell from 72 percent in 2016 to 56 percent in 2024; the municipality is working with the Zuidoost Master Plan to bring about improvements.

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History

History and heritage

Amsterdam's martial arts history is connected to the growth of Dutch kickboxing from the second half of the twentieth century. The Jaap Edenhal was mentioned as the venue for an early major kickboxing event in the Netherlands, while gyms such as Mejiro Gym, Chakuriki Gym and Vos Gym played an important role in the development of trainers and competitive fighters.

The city subsequently produced generations of kickboxers who became active on Dutch and international stages. That history continues from the pioneers of Dutch kickboxing to contemporary paths in kickboxing and MMA.

Amsterdam Southeast: The construction of Bijlmermeer

Construction of Bijlmermeer began in 1963 as a modernist neighborhood based on the ideas of Le Corbusier. The first apartment building, Hoogoord, was completed in 1968, and the last of the 13,000 apartments in 1975. In 1977, Amsterdam's first metro line opened, connecting the district to the city center.

Amsterdam Southeast: Bijlmer disaster and renewal

On October 4, 1992, an El Al Boeing 747 crashed into apartment buildings in Bijlmermeer, killing 43 people. This was followed by a large-scale renewal in which high-rise buildings were partly replaced by low-rise housing. The number of police reports fell from 20,000 in 1995 to 8,000 in 2005.

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Martial arts landscape

Combat sports landscape

The Amsterdam combat sports landscape encompasses kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA and related disciplines. The scene consists of a diverse range of gyms and training groups, from historic schools to modern venues for recreational sports, competitive sports and talent development.

The city is culturally diverse, and this variety is reflected in its sports communities, training styles and athletes' backgrounds. Amsterdam's combat sports scene is therefore both rooted locally and internationally oriented.

Amsterdam Southeast: Fighting Factory Carbin

Lucien Carbin, born in Suriname in 1952, came to Amsterdam in 1965, learned Kyokushin karate from Jon Bluming and was introduced to kickboxing by Jan Plas in 1976. After his fighting career, he founded Fighting Factory Carbin in the Bijlmermeer. Among others, Tyrone Spong, Alistair Overeem, Gilbert Yvel, Ilonka Elmont, Andy Ristie and Sergio Wielzen trained there; Fedor Emelianenko also prepared there for his fight with Mirko Cro Cop.

Amsterdam Southeast: Fighters from the Bijlmer

Tyrone Spong came to the Netherlands from Paramaribo at the age of five and grew up in the Bijlmermeer; he trained at Fighting Factory Carbin from 2001 to 2009 and became, among other titles, an It's Showtime world champion (2008) and Glory 95 kg Slam champion (2013). Muay Thai fighter Ilonka Elmont won seven world titles and became an honorary citizen of Amsterdam Southeast in 2001. Remy Bonjasky, Rob Kaman and Gilbert Yvel are also recognized as well-known names from the Bijlmer.

Martial arts facts

Historic martial arts capital
Amsterdam
Important historic center for kickboxing, Muay Thai and MMA in the Netherlands Amsterdam to support young combat sports talents
First major Dutch kickboxing event
Jaap Eden Hall
The Netherlands, approximately 50 years ago Congress: 50 years of martial arts and municipalities
Mejiro Gym Amsterdam
1975
Year the iconic Amsterdam kickboxing school was founded Mejiro Gym Amsterdam - official website
Fighting Factory Carbin
Lucien Carbin's kickboxing school in the Bijlmermeer
supplied, among others, Tyrone Spong, Alistair Overeem, and Gilbert Yvel Lucien Carbin
World champions
49 world champions trained by Lucien Carbin
in various martial arts federations and disciplines Lucien Carbin
Tyrone Spong
raised in the Bijlmermeer
including Glory 95 kg Slam champion (2013) Tyrone Spong
Ilonka Elmont
Honourable citizen of Amsterdam Zuidoost (2001)
Muay Thai; seven-time world champion Ilonka Elmont
Fighters from the Bijlmer
including Remy Bonjasky, Rob Kaman, Gilbert Yvel
mentioned among notable Bijlmer residents Bijlmermeer
Taekwon-Do
Taekwon-Do Kkamagwi, Kantershof 636
ITF Taekwon-Do at Gymzaal Samenspel Taekwon-Do Kkamagwi Contact – Taekwon-Do Kkamagwi
Residents of Amsterdam Zuidoost aged 12 and over
approximately 82,000 (1 January 2025)
16 percent growth since 2015 (CBS) Social issues and population dynamics in the focus areas - 3. Population size
Bijlmer disaster
October 4, 1992
El Al aircraft crashed into apartment buildings; 43 dead Amsterdam-Zuidoost Bijlmermeer
Population
Approximately 88,000
Residents, Amsterdam Zuidoost district Boroughs of Amsterdam
Surface
22.08 km²
Southeast borough, an exclave of Amsterdam Amsterdam-Zuidoost Boroughs of Amsterdam
Municipality
Amsterdam (North Holland)
Zuidoost is one of Amsterdam’s boroughs Amsterdam-Zuidoost

Data last checked on 24 September 2026

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