Amsterdam now features 1,761 places to work out, more than double the number recorded in 2017. Figures from the Kamer van Koophandel show rapid commercial growth across the gym sector, yet general activity levels among residents have not risen alongside it.
A health survey by the CBS, RIVM, and local health services reveals that 58 percent of Amsterdam adults hit the national exercise standard in 2024. That target requires two and a half hours of moderate weekly movement, including casual cycling, walking the dog, or daily errands.
Despite the proliferation of commercial options, that percentage has stayed level for a decade.
Fitness participation grows
While overall physical activity has hit a plateau, gym attendance itself has gained ground. Around 31 percent of adults in the municipality now exercise at a gym or use equipment at home at least once a week, up from 26 percent ten years ago.
That puts local participation slightly ahead of similar Dutch municipalities, where the average sits at 29 percent.
Industry researchers point out that indoor training offers flexibility and guided sessions, making it one of the fastest-growing fitness activities nationwide alongside running. Across the Netherlands, total gym venues now hover just under 14,000, which is also double the 2017 total.
Strict health standards
Researchers note that a single hour at the gym each week falls short of the official activity guidelines. Many active residents are simply swapping existing activities like football or swimming for weightlifting, or adding gym sessions to routine exercise they were already doing.
As a result, individual habits are shifting without pushing the overall public health baseline higher.
