ROTTERDAM, 24 April 2026 – Sports participation among young people in Rotterdam has risen sharply over the past four years, with 83% of children and teenagers now taking part in sport every week. The figure is higher than before the coronavirus period and marks a strong recovery among residents aged 5 to 18.
The new figures come from the Sports Participation Index (Sportdeelname Index), which is measured twice a year. In 2021-2022, 71% of Rotterdam’s young people were taking part in sport every week.
Youth sport rises sharply
The increase among young people is stronger than in other age groups in Rotterdam. Programmes such as SwapGym and Opjouwplein have helped make sport easier to access, while urban sports are also becoming more popular across the city.
Alderman Faouzi Achbar, responsible for Welfare, Society, Sport and Digital Inclusion, says the figures show a positive shift. “It is good to see that young people are doing more sport in the city. For the other target groups, we will continue our efforts to get even more residents to take part in sport and exercise.”
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SwapGym reaches vmbo pupils
SwapGym is aimed at secondary school pupils in Rotterdam. The pilot started in 2022 through Sportbedrijf Rotterdam and has since grown into a regular programme.
Through SwapGym, pupils can swap their weekly PE lesson for a class at a nearby sports provider for at least 10 weeks. That gives them more say in what they try, which can make sport feel less like an obligation and more like something they actually enjoy.
Urban sports gain ground
More than 1,600 pupils from 11 Rotterdam vmbo schools now take part in SwapGym. The programme fits a wider shift in the city, where sport is moving beyond traditional clubs and pitches.
Urban sports such as skateboarding, stunt scootering, freerunning, calisthenics and breakdance are gaining space in Rotterdam. To support that growth, the municipality launched the Urban Sports Agenda in 2024, developed with several urban sports organisations.
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Rotterdam backs new sport trends
The Urban Sports Agenda sets out actions to support these sports through to 2027. The focus is on making sure the city keeps up with how young people actually like to move, train and spend time outside.
Achbar also points to Opjouwplein as an example of how Rotterdam can make sport easier to try in local neighbourhoods. “A good example of this is Opjouwplein, which creates an accessible introduction to different sports options on existing squares for children in the neighbourhood.”
Older residents move less
The same research shows that Rotterdam residents aged 65 to 80 are the least active group. Only half of older residents take part in sport every week.
That remains a concern for the city. Rotterdam will continue to support initiatives that help older residents stay active, including structural sport and exercise after fall prevention training, as well as local movement activities in neighbourhoods.
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Active city ambition continues
Rotterdam also wants to make the city itself more inviting for sport and exercise. That includes good sports facilities, attractive parks and safe routes for walking and cycling.
The aim is to make everyday movement feel normal, whether that means taking the bike instead of the car or going for a run in one of Rotterdam’s parks. With these steps, the city is working towards its ambition to obtain the Global Active City label, built around health, sport and an active lifestyle that is accessible to everyone.
