Classes and sport | Home in Leiden

Croatian, Za vise informacija na hrvatskom jeziku, molimo kontaktirajte Tamaru, tamara@homeinleiden.nl

German, Wenn Du weitere Informationen auf Deutsch brauchst, wende Dich bitte an Dorothea, dorothea@homeinleiden.nl

Danish, For mere information paa Dansk kan De kontakte Heidi. ckb.hw@wxs.nl

Hebrew, michalstup@hotmail.com

Russian, u.jurik@yahoo.com

Czech, Pro více informací v ceském jazyce kontaktujte prosím eva.pentel@seznam.cz

Japanese, mari@homeinleiden.nl

French, Pour plus d'informations en français, vous pouvez contacter Claire Caron sur clairecaron@hotmail.com

Polish, Po dodatkowe informacje w jezyku polskim kontakt d.tomkiewicz@gmail.com or lidiacichocka@op.pl

Spanish, Si quieres más información en castellano, no dudes en ponerte en contacto conmigo, Laura laura@homeinleiden.nl

Indian, Please contact Rippy at rippy@homeinleiden.nl if you'd like help in Hindi or Punjabi.

INFO

About us
Pregnancy and Birth
Childrens Health
Childcare
Schools
Learning Dutch
Previous Homepages
FAQ: Moving to Leiden

WHERE TO GO

Museums
Playgrounds
Parks
Cafes and Restaurants
Getting around
Hotels and B&Bs
The library

CLASSES AND SPORT

____________________________________________________________________

Sports for Children

Judo and other martial arts

Sportschool Aad van Polanen

For	Boys and girls. Judo from age 3, Karate from age 5 and Jiu-jitsu from age 8
When	Monday, Wednesday, Friday and, Saturday afternoons, depending on age group. See website for details of all classes
Course structure	Pay half-yearly for 1 or 2 classes per week. If you can't make a lesson you can come to another lesson that week instead
Where	Rapenburg 48, 2311 EX Leiden
Cost	€125 for half a year
Website	www.jj-leiden.nl/htm/aadvanpolanen.htm
They say	-
Review	(judo 3+) Wonderful charismatic Martial arts champion teacher with very kind assistants. Takes place in a huge hall in an amazing 'decayed grandeur' building on the Rapenburg. Some classes (esp 3+ judo 15.15 on weds) can feel rather crowded as there are about 40 3-6 year olds running around. Meester Aad has amazing control over the children and they enjoy it, but might be rather overwhelming for a sensitive child (or parent!). The later class on Wednesdays (16.30-17.30) is much calmer. Parents can stay or leave as they choose. If you want to try, you can just turn up with your child. *Harriet*
Getting there	-

Sportschool Budokan

For	Judo and Sodurado for children 4+
When	Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday afternoons, Saturday mornings, depending on age group. See website for details of all classes
Course structure	Pay monthly for 1 or 2 classes per week
Where	Groenesteeg 107, 2312 SP Leiden
Cost	€15 per month for a weekly class
Website	www.budokan.nl/budokan
They say	-
Review	My son (6) is getting stronger and more self-confident from this. Also he loves the gezelligheid. Many of his school friends are there. *Olimpia*
Getting there	-

Judoteam Eendracht

For	Judo for age 3+
When	Friday evenings - 3-6 year-olds 18.15-19.00, 7-9 year-olds 19.00-20.00, 11+ 20.00-21.00
Course structure	Quarterly payment
Where	Gym upstairs on the corner of P.C. Hooftlaan/Vondellaan
Cost	€7 per month, €5 registration free
Website	www.judoeendracht.nl
They say	We give lessons in a playful and child-friendly and responsible way. Contact Barry Honsbeek on 071-5724790 / 06-16021906 barhonsbeek@casema.nl
Review	-
Getting there	-

Aikido

Aikido is one of the younger martial arts, developed by Morihei Ueshiba. He created it by combining several of the older, traditional martial arts. The basis of aikido is containing and controlling an attacker without hurting him or her. The name Aikido comes from a combination of the words for "The Way" (DO) of "Energy" (KI) "In Harmony" (AI). Aikido is a peaceful martial art and the techniques are designed to teach people to protect themselves without harming others. For instance, children learn to break their falls and roll, and to see rolling away from an attacker as an opportunity rather than a loss. All very philosophical, but very positive for children, as it teaches strategic solutions for conflict, in which power and speed are not always central. There are no competitions in Aikido, and therefore no winners or losers, which can be very appealing for certain kinds of (highly sensitive and/or non-competitive) children.

Aikido Centrum Leiden
P.C.Hooftlaan 13
2332 AX Leiden

For and when	There are children's classes (5-7) on Saturday morning from 10-11 and for slightly older children (8-11) at 11-12, also on Saturday mornings. Parents can sign their children up for a free trial lesson and are allowed to sit in on the class during the trial lesson.
Cost	Costs for young children (5-7 years old) €110 - ½ year fees or €200 for a full year + €10 registration fee (one off) and a yearly €15 membership contribution to the Dutch Aikikai foundation. Costs for slightly older children (8-11 years old) €140 - ½ year fees or €250 for a full year + €10 registration fee (one off) and a yearly €15 membership contribution to the Dutch Aikikai foundation.
Website	www.aikidocentrumleiden.nl
Review	We were looking for a martial art for our son. He is not very athletic, not interested in sports, and a bit clumsy. As one of the only little boys in his school who wasn't playing football, hockey, or judo, he was becoming increasingly left out. However, he had absolutely no interest in competition of any sort and is not into fighting at all. We did some reading and came across aikido. We signed our son (age 7) up for a trial lesson at the Aikido Centrum Leiden and he loved it immediately. Marc, one of the owners (along with his wife, Carolien), is an amazingly calm man who makes children (and their parents) feel immediately at home. He helps the children learn the basics of aikido by playing games. Each child takes turns playing the attacker and the defender, and together they find ways to solve a problem - the attack. It is a class completely free of the need to compete and win. Our son has been so proud of himself and loves to go to class. A concrete positive outcome was that our son (finally!) stood out in his school gym class. He usually dislikes gym a great deal. However, last week the class was practicing judo. The goal was to take turns getting a child who is very good at judo off the mat. No one else could do it, but our son could, using some aikido techniques. Of course, this is a bit competitive - not the point of aikido - but helpful for a non-athletic little boy who often feels bad in gym.

Ballet/Dance

Kreatif danscentrum

For	Kleuterdans for children 4-5, Classical ballet, Jazz, World Dance, Modern Dance etc for older children
When	See website for up-to-date roster
Course structure	Half-yearly payment (for periods August-Jan and Feb-July, although terms are short (Sept - Dec and Jan- May) and one/two/three lessons a week.
Where	Kerklaan 13, 2351 NS Leiderdorp (in the beautiful old centre of Leiderdorp)
Cost	€137.50 for one lesson per week. See website for more detail.
Website	www.kreadans.nl
They say	In all our lessons we work on a good dance technique, musicality, creativity and presentation. Together with our pupils we make sure of an enjoyable atmosphere during lessons, and there is space for personal attention.
Review	Very nice teachers and a small school in a lovely place.
Getting there	Bus 169, 187, 11 (stop Leiderdorpsebrug, 5 mins walk), Bus 182 (Acacialaan, 5 mins walk), 28 (stop Zwembad de Does, 8 mins walk)

Dance Studio Cinderella

For	Children from age 2yr 9 months upwards in various groups: 2yr 9m-3yr 9m; 3yr 9m-4, 4-5, 5-6, 7-8 etc, and you move up groups with age/ability. Various classes, including jazz, streetdance, classical ballet, musical/showdance
When	Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri afternoons and Saturday all day depending on group. See website for up to date roster
Course structure	Payments are yearly for dance season September to June, but you can do trial lessons and/or a trial month
Where	Broekplein 6, 2318 TJ, Merenwijk, Leiden
Cost	Trial lesson (just turn up): free, Trial month € 25 for 4 x 45 min lessons, €35 for 4 x 60/75 min lessons Year: 45 min lessons € 200, 60 min. lessons € 240, 75 min lessons €280 Registration fee (one-off) €10
Website	www.balletstudiocinderella.nl
They say	-
Review	Sara (5 ½) has been going for around 2.5 years now and she seems quite happy. The further they go the more discipline the teacher enforces. I like that! When she first started the lessons were mainly playful and with k3 music: it has now moved on to more classic steps, but is still playful. We found it particularly helpful that they offered a lesson on a Saturday. Olimpia
Getting there	Bus 45 Vossebes stop, (10 mins walk)

BplusC courses

NB: do also look at the website as there are many different BplusC courses, such as Musical and theatre.

General Dance

For	Age 4-5 and 6-8
When	Monday and Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday lunchtimes, Saturday mornings (see website for specific course dates and times)
Course structure	Year-long course
Where	Pauluskerk, Warmonderweg 2, 2341 KV Oegstgeest est, Leiden Oude Vest, Oude Vest 45, 2312 XS Leiden Volkshuis, Apothekersdijk 33a, 2312 DD Leiden
Cost	Yearly: 1 lesson per week 60 mins €220, 75 mins €270, 90 mins €320
Website	www.BplusC.nl
They say	Pleasure is central, alongside technique and discipline. Different sorts of music are used, and the children learn endless dance techniques. Attention is also given to dance expression and improvisation. For age 6-8 the exercises are more difficult and the lesson lasts 60 minutes instead of 45.
Review	-
Getting there	Bus 50, Warmonderweg stop (3 mins walk), Bus 36, 40, 51 Hendrik Kraemerpark stop ( 5 mins walk)

Classical Ballet

For	Age 9-12, 12-16, 14+ and 16+
When	Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings (see website for specific course dates and times)
Course structure	Year-long course
Where	Pauluskerk, Warmonderweg 2, 2341 KV Oegstgeest est, Leiden Volkshuis, Apothekersdijk 33a, 2312 DD Leiden
Cost	Yearly: 1 lesson per week 60 mins €220, 75 mins €270, 90 mins €320
Website	www.BplusC.nl
They say	Classical ballet is a great basis for all dance techniques. Important aspects are posture, technique, strength, musicality and working on suppleness. Dance routines may be traditional or modern
Review	-
Getting there	Bus 50, Warmonderweg stop (3 mins walk), Bus 36, 40, 51 Hendrik Kraemerpark stop ( 5 mins walk)

Jazz-/Showdance

For	Age 9-12, 12-16 and 16+, separate beginners and advanced classes
When	Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings (see website for specific course dates and times)
Course structure	Year-long course
Where	Pauluskerk, Warmonderweg 2, 2341 KV Oegstgeest est, Leiden Oude Vest, Oude Vest 45, 2312 XS Leiden Volkshuis, Apothekersdijk 33a, 2312 DD Leiden
Cost	Yearly: 1 lesson per week 60 mins €220, 75 mins €270, 90 mins €320
Website	www.BplusC.nl
They say	The music used in this course is 'swinging', so may be a top 40 hit, a musical number or streetdance. The lesson begins with a warm up, then technique exercises, and then the class works on a longer dance routine
Review	-
Getting there	Pauluskerk: Bus 50, Warmonderweg stop (3 mins walk), Bus 36, 40, 51 Hendrik Kraemerpark stop ( 5 mins walk) Other locations are very central and 5 mins walk from centre of town

Urban/Hiphop

For	Ages 9-12, 12-16, 14+ and 16+
When	Tuesday and Wednesday late afternoon/evenings (see website for specific course dates and times)
Course structure	Year-long course
Where	Pauluskerk, Warmonderweg 2, 2341 KV Oegstgeest est, Leiden Oude Vest, Oude Vest 45, 2312 XS Leiden Volkshuis, Apothekersdijk 33a, 2312 DD Leiden
Cost	Yearly: 1 lesson per week 60 mins €220, 75 mins €270, 90 mins €320
Website	www.BplusC.nl
They say	Urban dance is a hip dance style that follows the latest trends. You dance to R&B and hiphop and learn great dance routines. You practise your suppleness and muscle strength, with some breakdancing and freestyle dance
Review	-
Getting there	Pauluskerk: Bus 50, Warmonderweg stop (3 mins walk), Bus 36, 40, 51 Hendrik Kraemerpark stop ( 5 mins walk) Other locations are very central and 5 mins walk from centre of town

Breakdance

For	Ages 9+
When	Friday late afternoon (see website for specific course dates and times)
Course structure	Year-long course
Where	Volkshuis, Apothekersdijk 33a, 2312 DD Leiden
Cost	Yearly: 1 lesson per week 60 mins €220
Website	www.BplusC.nl
They say	Do you also want to learn how to great acrobatic displays to hiphop music, and don't mind getting bumped around a bit?
Review	-
Getting there	Central and 5 mins walk from centre of town

Boys Dance

For	Ages 6-9
When	Tuesday afternoon (see website for specific course dates and times)
Course structure	Year-long course
Where	Volkshuis, Apothekersdijk 33a, 2312 DD Leiden
Cost	Yearly: 1 lesson per week 60 mins €220
Website	www.BplusC.nl
They say	This lesson introduces boys to movement to music. It contains among other things strength training, jumping, breakdance, streetdance and musical dance: a multifaceted lesson. No girls allowed!
Review	-
Getting there	5 mins walk from centre of town

SOCIAL

Visitors book
Baby/Toddler Groups
Vogelwijk Playgroup
Classes and Sports
Photo Gallery
Leiden Moms Yahoo Group
Vrouw Kind Centrum
Meeting Point

USEFUL STUFF

Shops
For sale
Wanted
Find a Babysitter
Dutch Etiquette, Festivals and Traditions
Kids' Clothes Swop
Greener Leiden Living
HIL Top Tips
Expat Centre Leiden
Useful Links