New training centre for Dutch national hockey teams completed |
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Long-held KNHB ambition becomes reality
The Dutch national hockey teams now have a dedicated training centre in Amstelveen. CSC Sport has recently completed the construction of two new water-based hockey pitches on the site of a former football complex adjacent to the stadium. Together with the existing stadium pitch, the complex now offers a total of three pitches.
| Archive photo: Long-held KNHB ambition for its own training centre becomes reality |
The completion of the training complex in Amstelveen fulfils a long-held ambition of the Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB). Until now, the national hockey teams rented training facilities at various locations throughout the country. While this was not a major problem—the players come from all parts of the Netherlands and Dutch hockey has enjoyed considerable international success—the opportunity to establish one national training centre in Amstelveen was embraced enthusiastically by the federation. According to Chantal Mies, who is responsible for accommodation policy at the KNHB, the choice is a logical one. Other national sports federations, such as football in Zeist and swimming in Eindhoven, also provide permanent training bases for their national teams.
 | | Matthijs Verhoef, CSC Sport |
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FC Amsterdamse Bos
The new pitches have been built on the site of the former football fields vacated after FC Amsterdamse Bos relocated. The grounds are also home to Tennisvereniging Amsterdamse Bos. The hockey teams will be able to use the tennis club's facilities as well. In addition, they retain access to the facilities in the stadium. According to Mies, there are still various ideas for upgrading those facilities, but these improvements are not yet included in the current plans.
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'After the World Cup, we hope to sell the temporary stadium surface, after which a new TenCate surface will be installed.'
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Playing surface
The former football pitches were excavated to make room for the foundations of the two new water-based hockey pitches. The stadium also features a water-based pitch. As part of the project, the surface previously installed in the stadium has been relocated to one of the two new training pitches. The stadium is currently fitted with a temporary surface supplied by the German manufacturer Polytan. This has been done in preparation for the Hockey World Cup, which will be held this summer in the Netherlands and Belgium, Mies explains. 'After the World Cup, we will try to sell that surface and install a TenCate surface in the stadium, just like the one that has now been moved.' The reason World Cup matches will be played on Polytan surfaces is that the FIH, the international hockey federation, has a sponsorship agreement with the company. 'We have a sponsorship agreement with TenCate.' According to Mies, the choice has nothing to do with differences in quality. 'All the major manufacturers supply high-quality pitches.'
Playing experience
Even so, the surfaces are not exactly the same. To allow players to replicate World Cup playing conditions as closely as possible during training, one of the training pitches has also been fitted with a Polytan surface. Both surfaces are of high quality, but they are not identical, explains Matthijs Verhoef of CSC Sport. 'The differences are mainly due to the fibres used. Variations in fibre type, composition, pile height and backing create subtle differences in playing characteristics.' As the main contractor, CSC Sport is responsible for constructing the pitches together with specialised subcontractors handling specific parts of the project. For example, the irrigation system is being installed by Beregenings Service Mölder (BSM). Polytan's role is limited to installing its own playing surfaces.
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'Experience has shown that it is also possible to build high-quality pitches without an asphalt base.'
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Foundation
CSC Sport is constructing the foundations for both pitches. 'First a layer of sand is applied, followed by a layer of lava stone. One training pitch—the one with the Polytan surface—will then receive an asphalt top layer, just like the stadium pitch. The aim is to make these pitches resemble as closely as possible the surfaces used at all Hockey World Cups.' The second new training pitch will follow the traditional Dutch approach by omitting the asphalt top layer and instead using a reinforced base construction.
Asphalt not essential
According to Verhoef, asphalt top layers are much more common outside the Netherlands. 'Our experience has shown that it is perfectly possible to build excellent, level pitches without using asphalt.' The cost savings also make this an attractive option for clients.
The work has been carefully phased to ensure that Hockey Club Amsterdam, which also trains in the stadium, always has access to a playing field. Before the stadium surface could be replaced, one of the two new training pitches first had to be completed. Once CSC Sport had finished the base for the new Polytan pitch, the German company installed the surface. It was immediately ready for play, allowing training sessions to continue uninterrupted while the stadium surface was replaced.
Facilities
Between the two training pitches, CSC Sport is constructing a narrow training strip. The hockey federation plans to equip this area with additional facilities, including a power hill. A future ambition is to add new indoor training facilities within the stadium.
The new pitches were completed on schedule just before the summer, well ahead of the Hockey World Cup, which starts in mid-August. Apart from the temporary Polytan surface used in the stadium during the tournament, the construction of the training pitches is unrelated to the World Cup, the KNHB emphasises. Nevertheless, the timing has worked out particularly well this year.
This article was previously published on 30 June 2026 on the Fieldmanager](https://www.fieldmanager.nl/article/54463/nieuw-trainingscentrum-voor-nationale-hockeyteams-gereed]Fieldmanager) website.
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