A passion for stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP! That was the main reason for founding SUP in Leiden (SUPevent.nl) and The Friday Night SUP Leiden! We love to pass on our enthusiasm for the sport of SUP in a fun, cozy, sporty, and above all, relaxed way to as many people as possible.
The beautiful historic city of Leiden and its surroundings have a number of ideal SUP locations in our opinion. SUPing together in the city is also fun and varied... while you unknowingly work on your fitness and discover hidden spots in the city from the water! But nature can also be found within the city limits in the many parks, public gardens, and green spaces. SUPing through nature is especially calming and relaxed!
From the very beginning (2011), our crew has consisted of Talitha Dijksman and Peter Weitenberg. We have been SUPing a lot for several years on both flat water and at sea, in the Netherlands and abroad... and with great pleasure! From the start, our mission has been to pass on the fun we have while SUPing to our friends and acquaintances and to infect more and more people with the SUP virus!
Our idea behind SUP in Leiden was to paddle comfortably with a group of enthusiastic participants on a Stand Up Paddleboard through the canals right through the beautiful historic city center. We also live in Leiden, and despite the fact that in addition to tour boats and pleasure craft, there were many rowboats and canoes on the canals on beautiful summer days, we didn't see many SUPers back then. What a shame!
We teach according to the principles of the Water Skills Academy (WSA), supplemented by our own experiences. The WSA is a British umbrella SUP association that organizes instructor diplomas, workshops, mentoring, and advisory sessions in the field of various water sports. This includes training in SUP as well as other water sports and first aid training, to offer support to anyone who is completely enthusiastic about water sports and would love to transfer their knowledge of these sports to others.
The WSA aims to build a safe, responsible, and sustainable relationship with the wind, water, waves, and all other conditions you might face on the water while learning and practicing your sport. In this way, you also learn from us to safely SUP in a fun and responsible manner. You will quickly see results and lay a solid foundation for the further development of your SUP skills. We are certified as WSA Stand Up Paddleboard Foundation Coaches and have also successfully completed the safety course WSA SUP Water Rescue and Safety.
SUPing is super fun, cozy, sporty, good for your health, your balance, and your body, and on top of that, because of the many possible variations, it is never boring or dull. Moreover, anyone can learn to SUP because it is not hard to learn! With us, for example, you can take a relaxed trip on flat water through the canals in Leiden or out into nature surrounding the city, all at your own pace. If you are looking for more excitement and thrills, you can of course also join us SUPing at sea and test your skills in the waves. In short, there is something for everyone...
With a total of 28 km of canals and moats, the historic city center of Leiden has, after Amsterdam, the most water flowing within its gates of all cities in the Netherlands. With all that water in the city, more than 89 bridges are now needed to cross. You understand that this makes Leiden very easy to discover from the water! Join us on a sporty journey of discovery over the water on a SUP and discover the beautiful and cozy historic city center of Leiden and its surroundings in a whole new, original way! Leiden is also a fantastic starting point for beautiful day trips in the area towards, for example, De Kaag, or to follow the Singelpark route through the city.
We also offer packages for company outings, team building, bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthday parties, and other group outings. Anything is possible! Please contact us to discuss the possibilities and any specific wishes you might have!
