Bouldering At Beest Boulders Rotterdam
Now it is fair to suggest that I will not be climbing Everest anytime soon or find myself desperately trying to scare myself out of my skin with some ‘free climbing’. Still, I do like the idea of indoor Bouldering and its overall enjoyment and excitement.
In addition, I love trying out any new sport, returning to old ones previously attempted and striving to improve at pursuits I so often enjoy.
What is Bouldering?
Time to get on those Bouldering shoes.
Bouldering shoes: The typical bouldering shoe is a highly downturned shoe with a snug fit, a tight heel cup, and a soft midsole. They are notably softer shoes than those used on sport climbs and trad climbs because bouldering requires more emphasis on feeling the terrain beneath you.
Bouldering is great fun, and for semi-indulgent climbers like myself, it is a form of free climbing carried out on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without using ropes or harnesses.
While Bouldering tends to be done without equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help secure footholds, chalk to keep their hands dry and provide a firmer grip, and bouldering mats to prevent injuries when you jump or sometimes fall.
You can boulder outside, in some varied and inspirational locations or if you don't fancy that and would prefer, you can enjoy one of the many indoor Bouldering centres that seem to pop up here, there and everywhere.
Bouldering centres are perfect for all climbers' abilities as the selection of climbing routes is suitable for training purposes, you can stay dr,y and it is a welcoming environment to be with others and learn from others.
Here are a few helpful articles that might further explain what Bouldering is and how it might benefit you as a new hobby.
Beginner's Guide to Bouldering: What It Is & How to Get Started - 99Boulders
What Is Bouldering? - Beginner's Guide + 6 Top Tips - Climber News
Where Can You Go Bouldering?
I have been lucky enough to try Bouldering several times in the past. In the Peak District, as a youngster, on the naturally formed millstone grit formations, but also in several different artificial bouldering centres. Where to Bouldering outdoors in the Peak District.
My first adventure was at the Depot Climbing Centre in Nottingham, where I learned how to give things a go, but since moving to the Netherlands, I have realised the Dutch seem to love this sort of thing, with many locations in all of the main cities.
Living in Rotterdam, I have several locations in the city and have been to MONK Bouldering Gym several times before and enjoyed it.
Bouldering walls with an impressive view of the city landscape.
Beest Boulders
Beest Boulders is an excellent company with many Bouldering centres available throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. They pride themselves on creating a positive experience for all abilities and actively seek to take over new premises and grow the company.
Starting Bouldering is accessible for everyone, and possible to start, enjoy and learn as you go along. Beest Boulders encourage all would-be participants to drop by a centre without an arranged appointment and enjoy the experience.
Once registered, you obtain a sort of membership card that then this card allows you to access any of its centre's nationwide branches. From here, you can pay for each visit or obtain a subscription that will enable you to pay monthly. All of the tariffs are competitively priced and can be viewed here. The subscription is a monthly payment that allows you to use the gym freely at a time convenient to you. In comparison, the other option is to simply pay as you go.
In addition, to your visit, you may wish to hire shoes and chalk; this will, of course, be at your expense, but the rates of hiring equipment are pretty good. Alternatively, you can buy your own shoes with an entry-level pair costing around 50 Euros. Klimschoenen Rock+ grijs | SIMOND | Decathlon.nl
Other Bouldering Centres in The Netherlands and Belgium
Beest Boulders has many other locations in the following cities:
The Lab Amsterdam - Transformatorweg 32
1014 AK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Beast Boulders Amsterdam - Willem de Zwijgerlaan 338
1055 RD AmsterdamBeast Boulders The Hague - Waldorpstraat 15 F
2521 CA The HagueBeast Boulders Rotterdam - Benthemplein 10
3032 CC RotterdamBeast Boulders Antwerp - Rijnkaai 2
2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Coming Soon
Beast Boulders The Hague Center - coming soon - Grote Marktstraat 20
2511 BJ The HagueBeast Boulders Leiden - coming soon - Wire track 49
2352 BM Leiderdorp
One of the Beest Bouldering halls. A very colourful and enticing space, with many significant graded climbs for you to choose from.
Bouldering walls are set in various combinations, with different graded routes. These routes are graded on the wall display and are periodically changed to make the Bouldering routes more challenging.
Rotterdam Beest Boulders
I recently visited my local Beest Boulders centre, located around 8 minutes from my house. It is in a fantastic location, close to the city centre and nearby the train station, with links to many different locations.
A wide variety of graded bouldering routes.
The centre has incredible views across the entire city of Rotterdam as it is housed in a nine-floored building, with a gym on several floors below and the bouldering centre occupying floors 6 through to 9.
Like all bouldering centres, it has many graded climbing walls that will cater for all abilities, and these walls are then set with three rather large rooms, which are plenty big enough, even if it becomes busy.
Each bouldering room is spacious, with comfy crash mats at the bottom to apply comfort to the fall. There are seats dotted around, with changing rooms, hand wash facilities and toilets.
On the top floor is ample seating, which helps form the main bar area, where you can eat and drink and enjoy the incredible panoramic views of Rotterdam and further afield. Beest Boulders Rotterdam has a unique lounge at the height of 60 meters. There is also a shop where you will find everything you need for climbing and bouldering activities in their extensive shop. You can always contact the staff for personal advice and questions about products!
Of course, this seated area is excellent to enjoy once you have been climbing, but it is also a suitable and comfy place for a coffee, beer or a chance to do your work.
Instagram: Beest Boulders Rotterdam (@beestbouldersrotterdam) • Instagram photos and videos
This Bouldering hall is a big old space and a pleasant place to enjoy a climb.
Beest Boulders Location
There are incredible views across the city from the top floor cafe and bar.
More seating and views to the city.
The Climbing
The climbing itself was excellent, with an extensive range of graded bouldering climbs that will keep all levels of climbers busy for a few hours. Providing significant challenge throughout, with some of the holds being easy too, er hold, whereas some seemed like, 'how on earth do you do that?''
I am merely a novice, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. By the end of the session, I was shattered and a bit sore, especially in my hands, but I had noticed improvements and would be keen to come back for more.
Like with all things, it is a measurable mix of practice and patience, and if you want to get to do what seems like the impossible, you need to stick at it.
Would I recommend it?
Of course, I would. It is a brilliant way to enjoy a few hours and challenge yourself to get better at a new hobby. The staff are friendly, and the whole venue is incredibly cool. It is worth a visit, and I hope it does well with its future endeavours.
The training gym.
City views towards Rotterdam Centraal station.
Window seating and a great work space.