The ACLO (read their english Frequently asked questions here)

Today’s institution of choice is the ACLO. The ACLO is the overarching student sports organization for students since 1945, and also the biggest one in the Netherlands. Every RUG and Hanze student can become a memberof this organization. For only €52 a year you can sport/exercise as much as you wish.
As an ACLO member you can also become a member of one of the 52 sport clubs. 47 of them are ran by students only. You can choose between approximately 45 different sports ranging from horse riding to walking across the mud flats of Groningen.
If you do not wish to be a member of a sportsclub, you can still attend a class or an entire course. Go to the ACLO website, can log in and subscribe to any course available at that moment.

The website
The ACLO website is one of the first important things you will encounter. The link to the website is(www.aclosport.nl).
The website opens in Dutch. However, in the far left corner of the screen you will find 2 flags. A Dutch flag, and an English flag. Click on the English one and the website will be translated into English. This is a good start. Technically, the website is identical to the Dutch version.

The visit
The ACLO sport center is located at the edge of the Zernike campus. It is the large building with the striking letters out front spelling ‘sport center’. When you enter the building you arrive into the hall of the center with the front office on your left. There is always someone sitting at the desk ready to answer your questions. Either in English or in Dutch.
When looking for English information, two boxes can be found right next to the Dutch ones. One with the opening hours and one showing the time schedules. It’s a good start. Walking through the hall you can find more information. There’s a white case with the ACLO sports guide 2010/2011, the ACLO sports magazine and some more schedules. If you’re looking for any information, go there and take it!
In the corridor of the building, is a lot of different information on boards next to every door.
For example: there’s a hall where you can do a fitness circuit training or take Zumba lessons. On the board you can find information on when and where the class is being held and what it is exactly.
If you’re exercising after class it is clever to safely put your belongings away in a locker. There are many green lockers in the corridor of the building. Buy a lock for only a few euros and you can always hide your stuff. Above the lockers there’s a sign with some information, in English.

In the long corridor of the building you will find various bulletin boards. There are many nice posters from the different sport associations. When you need advice you can find the tip of the week on the first bulletin board. It is in Dutch, but the English translation shows right next to it.

After your workout you can go eat or drink something in the sportscafé. A quick look tells, that the café isn’t quite as international as the rest of the building. The pricelists are in Dutch as are the names above the products. It might be better to go home, because a Dutch kroket after your work-out will give you all those calories right back.

The conclusion
All the important information at the ACLO was provided in English. It seems that the ACLO attaches importance to informing their international sporters, as they should.
So international students, don’t have to be afraid! There is a lot of information and most of it is in English. So sporting doesn’t have to be a problem for all of you! Go there and enjoy your exercise!

The ACLO passed my test.

Text and Photography by Roosmarijn Tamminga

In Groningen there are several student sport clubs which you can join. As a non-Dutch it can be hard to find contact information, because most sport clubs do not provide English information on their website.
In the following list some of the major student sport clubs in Groningen and their contact information is summed up. If you like to join one of them you can just call or send an e-mail. Most of the time the contact person will be able to answer your questions in English. Some sport clubs want you to be member of the Aclo( an over arching sport organization), you can find out more about the Aclo on this website: http://www.aclosport.nl/mainacloEn/mainacloEn.htm

Fitness:
Aclo: At the Aclo you can work out, but the Aclo is also an over arching sport organization. Most of the sport club described in this article are attached to the Aclo.
They have a English website where you can find almost everything you want to know about student sport in Groningen.
http://www.aclosport.nl/mainacloEn/mainacloEn.htm

American Football

Groningen Giants: The main part of the website of the Giants is in English, but they provide a English contact form.
http://groningengiants.nl/contact/

Athletics

G.S.A.V Vitalis: Vitalis is the oldest Athletics club of Groningen and the biggest student athlelics club of the Netherlands. There is an English version of the website available.

http://www.vitalis.org/en

Basketball
Groene Uilen: The Groene uilen don’t have an English website and it can be quite hard to find contact information. You can e-mail the board on this e-mail adress: bestuur@groeneuilen.nl

Moestasj G.S.V.B Basketball: Moestasj do have a English website. Everything you want to know is described here: http://www.moestasj.nl/en/
Cricket
GCC: The only student cricket club of Groningen. Their website is in English and contact information is available here: http://sites.google.com/site/groningercricketclub/contact
Hockey
Groningsche Cricket en Hockey club: Despite, they still mention cricket in their clubname they do not participate in a cricket competition, it is only about hockey. Their website is only available in Dutch, but you can ask questions on this webpage: http://www.gchc.nl/contact.
Just fill in your name behind the word ‘naam’, your phonenumber behind ‘telefoonnummer’, your questions or remark behind ‘opmerking’ and click ‘versturen’.

GSHC Forward: They only have a Dutch website but you can contact ’Bas Dorhout Mees’ if you have any questions.
Phonenumber:06-21111871,

E-mail: voorzitter@groningerstuds.nl

Icehockey
G.S.Y.V The Bulldogs: The bulldogs only provide a English website and contact information can be found easily. http://www.thebulldogs.nl/

Baseball

BSC Caribe: Their website is in Dutch, but you can call their secretary Ellen Visser on 050 - 525 22 09 or send an e-mail to secretaris@caribe.nl.

Rowing
A.G.S.R Gyas: The website of Gyas is, like many other sites, in Dutch. You can send an e-mail to Bestuur@gyas.nl or just call to 050 - 526 74 45.

G.S.R. Aegir: Just like Gyas the website is in Dutch. You can send an e-mail to abactis@gsaegir.nl or call to 050-3124666.

Rugby

Groninger Studenten Rugby Club: GSRC is the only student rugby club in Groningen. A part of the website is in English but to help you out: Phonenumber: 0621110855 E-mail address: bestuurgsrc@gmail.com

Football
G.S.A.V.V. Forward: Forward is the oldest student soccerclub of the Netherlands. If you like to join you can contact them by e-mail: secretaris@gsavvforward.nl,

G.S.V.V. The Knickerbockers: The rival of Forward is the Knickerbockers. If you rather join them you can call secretary Maryn Kleingeld for further information on 06 - 48 88 77 73.

Volleyball
G.S.V.V Donitas: Do you like to play volleyball? Then, Donitas is one of your options. They do not have an English website, but they are willing to answer your questions by e-mail: info@donitas.nl

Veracles: You can also join Veracles. Just like Donitas they do not have an English website. You can send an e-mail to info@veracles.nl or call on 06-10444486 or 06-42383883.

Tennis

G.S.T.C. Groninger Studenten Tennis Club: GSTC is the oldest student tennis club of the Netherlands. Despite this, the website is only available in Dutch. You can call Diederik Boemhof(the praeses) if you have questions on : 0647269043

Tennisclub Albertus Magnus T.A.M: This is the tennis club of the studentsociety Albertus. You can join even if you aren’t member of Albertus. You can call Hannah de Boer(the praeses) for further information on 0644410579. You can also fill in the contact form on the bottom of the screen: http://www.tam.nl/contact/contact. Here, ‘naam’ means name and behind ‘vraag/opmerking’ you can fill in your question.

Veracket: Veracket does not has an English website but you can call president Steven Reuver on 0622724257 if you have questions.

Other sports or sportclubs

If your favourite sport was not mentioned in the previous list you can check out the website of the Aclo: http://www.aclosport.nl/verenigingenEn/verenigingenEn.htm. If the website of the desired sport club is in Dutch just look for the word ‘Contact’, it has the similar meaning as the English word.