With the commissioning of the renewed sports fields, the student sports associations have been reunited on the sports grounds after a period of about three years. The opening thus marks an important moment for Leiden student sports.
All outdoor sports associations were present at the opening. The chairman of Football Factory, Martijn Kouwenhoven, expressed his gratitude and joy about the reunion of the associations and the completion of the fields. Sarah de Rijcke, Rector Magnificus of the university, also emphasized the importance of the new sports facilities. “Sport not only contributes to the physical and mental health of students and staff, but also brings people together. The sports centre offers a place where students, staff, local residents, and various sports clubs can meet and where new connections are made.”
A new step in the history of the sports centre
With the opening of the outdoor sports fields, the University Sports Centre takes another step towards completing the new construction project. The main building was already completed earlier this year. Work is also underway on the further development of the grounds. For instance, trees are being planted to give the area a greener look, and the construction of a calisthenics park and a rooftop beach volleyball court are still planned.
During the opening, attention was also paid to the history of Leiden student sports. Annette van Lookeren Campagne, head of the University Sports Centre, reflected on the historical significance of the location. To mark the occasion, a street sign bearing the name 'Piet Paaltjenspad' was unveiled, which is now located in the renewed sports park. The name refers to the street name of the path along which the sports fields were situated, which Leiden University was the first university in the Netherlands to take under its own management in 1954.
In the early years, football and hockey, among others, were played here, later followed by rugby. Surrounding the fields were barracks where students lived. Their front doors were right next to the sports grounds, where fitness training was also given. Wouter Ockers, former chairman of the Leidsch Studenten Rugby Gezelschap (LSRG), took the audience through the history of this historical sports location. Over the years, the sports grounds saw various iterations, with earlier fields eventually having to make way for the medical faculty. Despite the relocation of the fields, the name lived on: the Piet Paaltjenspad was popularly corrupted to 'het Palenpad'. The sign forms a tangible reminder of the rich history of Leiden (outdoor) student sports, which has now found its new home base next to the University Sports Centre.
New opportunities for sports
In addition to the return of the existing sports clubs, the fields also offer space for new sports options. For example, the sports centre now also features two outdoor padel courts, and there is a 3x3 basketball court in the middle of the grounds. With the planned additions of Calisthenics and Beach Volleyball, the offerings will be further expanded in the near future.
During the opening, visitors could try out the various outdoor sports themselves. Student sports associations organized clinics in lacrosse, tennis, hockey, rugby, and football, among others. This allowed visitors not only to view the renewed fields but also to experience firsthand what the sports grounds have to offer.
The opening was celebrated appropriately with sporting activities, snacks, and drinks. The renewed outdoor sports fields thus form not only a place to train and play matches but also a meeting place for the Leiden student sports community.
