In this guide
Quick answer (TL;DR)
Why gym choice is harder for expats than you’d think
In the Netherlands two things make this surprisingly painful:
- The cheapest price usually comes with a long contract. Basic-Fit’s annual plans run for at least 52 weeks, and its Flex option adds €9.99 per 4 weeks; SportCity offers Flex (monthly cancellation) next to 4-month, 1-year and 2-year memberships. If you’re on a relocation contract or unsure how long you’ll stay, that matters.
- Class culture is studio-based, not gym-based. Crossfit, yoga, boxing, climbing — the good stuff happens at independent boutique studios, not inside the big chains. Which is exactly why aggregator passes like OneFit and ClassPass exist.
There’s a third issue nobody warns you about: the Dutch obsession with bookings. You can’t just walk into a popular spin class on a Tuesday evening — you book your slot 48 hours ahead through the app or you get turned away at the door. Once you accept this is the system, life gets easier.
Combining memberships: an example
Example year 2 (Basic-Fit + OneFit): Keeping two memberships for different activities can create an expensive overlap if one is rarely used. Check both current tariffs and cancel one if the usage data does not justify it.
The five options compared
Prices below are the ones the chains publish on their own sites on 6 October 2026. Basic-Fit and SportCity quote prices per 4 weeks, not per calendar month, so a year contains 13 payments, not 12.
OneFit
OneFit is an aggregator: one membership that gives access to partner studios and gyms. According to its own site, that is more than 50 sports across over 12,000 partners in Europe, with workouts you book in the app and open training without a booking. OneFit has several membership tiers, and which studios you can use depends on the tier and the city, so check the current price and the studios near you on OneFit before you compare it with a single-chain membership. Partner studios can set their own conditions for visits, so check the studio’s page in the app before you commit.
Best for: Expats who want variety in their training and live in or near a city with many partner studios.
Not great for: People who train at one gym five times a week; a single-chain membership is usually the simpler fit.
ClassPass
ClassPass works on credits rather than a fixed number of visits. The credit cost of a class depends on the class, so check it in the app before you book.
Best for: Frequent travellers, or anyone who wants a low-commitment pass and does not mind comparing credit costs.
Not great for: People who want a fixed, predictable price per class.
Basic-Fit (Comfort from €24.99 per 4 weeks)
Basic-Fit says it has 250+ clubs in the Netherlands, including towns where aggregator passes have few partners. On 6 October 2026 its site listed the annual Comfort plan at €24.99 per 4 weeks, Premium at €29.99 and Ultimate at €34.99, excluding joining fees (€19.99 on Comfort and Ultimate, €9.99 on Premium). The annual contract runs for at least 52 weeks and can be cancelled per 4 weeks after that. The Flex option adds €9.99 per 4 weeks, which makes Comfort Flex €34.98 per 4 weeks. All memberships include 24/7 access, live group classes and the Basic-Fit app. Comfort covers 24/7 training in 200+ Dutch clubs; Premium and Ultimate cover the 24/7 clubs across Europe, and Premium lets you bring a different friend once a week.
English support varies per club, so ask at your local club.
Best for: Budget-conscious expats with a stable routine and weight-room regulars.
Not great for: Anyone who values class variety over a fixed home gym.
SportCity (from €27.99 per 4 weeks)
SportCity says it has 123 clubs across the Netherlands. Its site quotes a promotional price from €27.99 per 4 weeks. City One gives access to one club; City Plus gives access to several SportCity clubs and lets you bring someone along five times a month. You can choose a Flex membership that cancels monthly, or 4 months, 1 year or 2 years. fitforfree.nl now redirects to sportcity.nl, so Fit For Free clubs are no longer a separate option.
Best for: Expats who want live group classes included and a club near home.
David Lloyd
David Lloyd is a premium club operator. Its Dutch club finder lists five clubs: Amsterdam (Overtoom), Capelle aan den IJssel, Rotterdam Centrum, Rotterdam Blijdorp and Eindhoven (Veldhoven). Prices differ per club and are not published on the club finder, so ask the club for current membership and joining fees.
Best for: Families and racquet-sport players who live near one of those five clubs.
Not great for: Anyone in a city without a club.
How the options fit different training patterns
- Beginner, 2x a week, mostly cardio: a single-chain membership such as Basic-Fit Comfort (€24.99 per 4 weeks, about €325 over 13 periods) or an aggregator tier if you want to try classes. Compare against OneFit’s current tier prices.
- Intermediate, 3-4x a week, mix of strength and classes: an aggregator such as OneFit suits people who want both; a single chain suits people who stay in one gym.
- Advanced lifter, 5x a week at the same gym: a single-chain membership is usually the better match.
- Class-only, yoga + pilates + dance: OneFit or ClassPass, depending on the studios near you.
- Family with kids: look at the clubs near you, including David Lloyd if one is close.
- Travelling expat: ClassPass or OneFit, depending on where you travel; check coverage in the app first.
Location coverage in the big cities
Coverage changes with new openings, so use each chain’s club finder for your address. As of 6 October 2026, David Lloyd’s Dutch club finder lists clubs in Amsterdam (Overtoom), Capelle aan den IJssel, Rotterdam Centrum, Rotterdam Blijdorp and Eindhoven, and none in Utrecht or The Hague. Basic-Fit lists clubs in Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Groningen, Utrecht, Almere and Tilburg, among other cities. For partner studios, search OneFit’s or ClassPass’s app by neighbourhood. If you’re picking between Den Haag and Den Bosch, see The Hague vs Den Bosch comparison.
Wellness budget — ask your employer
Some employers reimburse fitness through their benefits policy or the Dutch werkkostenregeling (WKR). The available allowance and tax treatment can change, so ask HR what the current policy covers. A setup can look like this:
- Reimbursement: You submit a monthly invoice and HR reimburses it, within the employer’s rules.
- Pre-paid or direct payment: Some employers pay a fitness provider directly or offer a fitness benefit through a third party.
If you’ve never asked HR about this, send a one-line email today: “Does our employer have a fitness or wellness budget I can use under the WKR scheme?” While you’re at it, check if they cover supplementary health insurance add-ons too.
What about the social side?
If you’re navigating expat life solo, this matters more than the price difference. A price gap between a single chain and an aggregator pass is small compared with the value of three actual friends.
Cancellation rules — the bit people forget
Dutch consumer law gives you protection, but every provider sets its own terms. Read the general terms before you sign.
- Basic-Fit: the annual membership runs for at least 52 weeks and can be cancelled per 4 weeks after that (Basic-Fit’s own site). Check the general terms for the notice period.
- SportCity: you can choose Flex (cancel monthly), or 4 months, 1 year or 2 years (SportCity’s own site).
- OneFit, ClassPass, David Lloyd: check the terms in the sign-up flow or ask the provider for the notice period before you pay.
Payment methods and bank account issues
If a gym collects your membership by direct debit (automatische incasso), you do not need an NL IBAN for it: according to De Nederlandsche Bank, a company may not refuse a direct debit on a euro IBAN from another EU/EEA country, so a non-Dutch euro IBAN from Wise should be accepted too. If a gym refuses it, you can report that to DNB.
If you haven’t sorted your banking yet, see best bank accounts for expats. For the Wise vs Revolut question specifically, our head-to-head comparison covers which one’s IBAN gets accepted most reliably.
You can also pay OneFit and ClassPass on credit card, which is handy in your first few weeks before your Dutch bank account is fully active.
Special situations
You’re injured or recovering: Basic-Fit’s site offers a freeze option of up to 4 weeks, twice a year (free with Ultimate, €2.99 per 4 weeks on the other memberships, as shown on 6 October 2026). For OneFit, ClassPass and others, ask the provider whether you can pause. If you’re working through a physical issue, physiotherapy options for expats covers what’s covered by basis insurance vs what comes out of pocket.
You travel a lot: ClassPass and OneFit both work across more than one city; check coverage in each app for the places you travel to.
You’re moving to a smaller town: Check the Basic-Fit and SportCity club finders first; aggregator networks are usually thinner outside big cities, so look at the partner map before you pay.
You’re retiring here or semi-retired: Ask clubs about off-peak or daytime memberships. The retiring in the Netherlands guide has more on local options.
You’re price-sensitive on everything: Pick a single-chain membership and keep an eye on your other fixed costs, such as utility costs.
External source: NOC*NSF — Sports in the Netherlands — independent information on this topic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which gym chain has the best English support for expats:
OneFit and ClassPass run their entire app and customer service in English. Basic-Fit has English staff in major-city clubs but Dutch dominates outside the Randstad.
Can my employer reimburse my gym membership:
Some Dutch employers offer a fitness or wellness budget, for example within the werkkostenregeling. Ask HR what the current policy covers and whether OneFit or Basic-Fit invoices qualify.
Is OneFit worth it if I only train 3x a week:
Only if you want variety — yoga Monday, crossfit Wednesday, boxing Friday. If you do the same routine 3x a week, a single-chain membership such as Basic-Fit Comfort (€24.99 per 4 weeks, about €325 over 13 periods on an annual contract) is likely to be cheaper; compare it with OneFit's current tier prices.
Can I cancel a Basic-Fit annual contract early when I move abroad:
Check Basic-Fit's general terms first. We could not confirm a general waiver for people who move abroad, so contact customer service with your deregistration proof and ask in writing.
Which gym is best in Amsterdam vs Rotterdam vs Utrecht:
Use each chain's club finder for your address. David Lloyd has clubs in Amsterdam, Capelle aan den IJssel, Rotterdam (Centrum and Blijdorp) and Eindhoven, but none in Utrecht or The Hague.