Max Health Club: gym with the best view
Max Health Club, located in the green oasis of Dutteldel, has it all: a 20-metre swimming pool in, wellness facilities, an in-house physiotherapy practice, childcare and a space for private yoga classes.
DATE
21 May 2022
TEXT
Maja Landeweer
IMAGE
Fleur Beemster & Frank Jansen
Max Health Club: gym with the best view
Max Health Club, located in the green oasis of Dutteldel, has it all: a 20-metre swimming pool in, wellness facilities, an in-house physiotherapy practice, childcare and a space for private yoga classes.
Max Health Club might just be the gym with the best view in The Hague. Exactly 15 years ago Jacco Helmink and Niels Renes made their fitness dream come true in a green oasis in Duttendel: luxury for the whole family.
'It happens sometimes that people get stuck'
First things first: how cosy it is! You might just think you have walked into a café and not a place where people are working up a sweat. You step into the coffee corner: cosy wooden tables, laughter, conversation and children running around on this Thursday afternoon. Helmink laughs: "It sometimes happens that people linger and skip their sports class, but that's not the intention."
Jacco Helmink (left) and Niels Renes made their fitness dream come true in a green oasis in Duttendel: luxury for the whole family.
That cheerful atmosphere totally suits this club, which wants to be there for the whole family: from the youngest to the senior. Helmink: "We see that grandparents who train here bring their grandchildren. So much fun." Up another flight of stairs, a serene calm reigns. Here you can exercise "with the most beautiful view in The Hague", says Helmink.
Max Health Club
On all sides, it is a green opulence. Max Health Club is in the middle of the Klein Zwitserland area, so called because of the high dune peak that characterises this idyllic, green spot. Fitness men Helmink and Renes know each other from Zoetermeer, where they created a special space for personal training within the walls of a sports club. Renes: "A club-in-club concept. It was really high-end. Training in small groups by appointment."
When it was finished, the two wondered: what next? Helmink: "I dreamed of a big club of my own. Always had." Renes: "Building something myself from scratch."
Luxury
It had to be luxurious, with lots of facilities, and "a home away from home". Helmink: "Your other living room." When the premises on Haagse Klatteweg became vacant - the fitness club that was there quit - they made their move. They started simply, in a pretty dated building, and slowly worked towards the picture they had in mind. Renes: "We spent eight years renovating, from 2006 to 2014."
20-metre pool
It came with a 20-metre swimming pool, wellness facilities, an in-house physiotherapy practice, a childcare centre and a space for private yoga classes. Everything an athlete could wish for is now here under one roof. Exactly as they had hoped, Helmink beams.
'Private yoga can work very well, for example for certain complaints'
What catches the eye when you visit Max Health Club's website is the large selection (20) of personal trainers, in all shapes and sizes. From bronze, as it is called here, to platinum. From young and enthusiastic to seasoned or with a specialisation, such as yoga. Renes says, as he pushes open the door of the intimate studio especially for the latter purpose: "Private yoga can work very well, for example for certain complaints."
What catches the eye when you visit Max Health Club's website is the large selection (20) of personal trainers, in all shapes and sizes.
Another special option: private swimming lessons. "Never mastered the breast crawl properly? A few sessions with our trainer and you'll have it down." Over the next 15 years, Max's main aim is to continue doing what they are good at: offering a nice range in a cosy family atmosphere. In addition, the entrepreneurs will continue to innovate. "In the corona era, we have made a huge impact. The online class is a keeper. It is also very handy on holidays. And we are not done yet. For instance, you can now schedule an appointment in the personal trainer's diary yourself via an app."
text Maja Landeweer image Fleur Beemster & Frank Jansen
Max Health Club might just be the gym with the best view in The Hague. Exactly 15 years ago Jacco Helmink and Niels Renes made their fitness dream come true in a green oasis in Duttendel: luxury for the whole family.
'It happens sometimes that people get stuck'
First things first: how cosy it is! You might just think you have walked into a café and not a place where people are working up a sweat. You step into the coffee corner: cosy wooden tables, laughter, conversation and children running around on this Thursday afternoon. Helmink laughs: "It sometimes happens that people linger and skip their sports class, but that's not the intention."
Jacco Helmink (left) and Niels Renes made their fitness dream come true in a green oasis in Duttendel: luxury for the whole family.
That cheerful atmosphere totally suits this club, which wants to be there for the whole family: from the youngest to the senior. Helmink: "We see that grandparents who train here bring their grandchildren. So much fun." Up another flight of stairs, a serene calm reigns. Here you can exercise "with the most beautiful view in The Hague", says Helmink.
Max Health Club
On all sides, it is a green opulence. Max Health Club is in the middle of the Klein Zwitserland area, so called because of the high dune peak that characterises this idyllic, green spot. Fitness men Helmink and Renes know each other from Zoetermeer, where they created a special space for personal training within the walls of a sports club. Renes: "A club-in-club concept. It was really high-end. Training in small groups by appointment."
When it was finished, the two wondered: what next? Helmink: "I dreamed of a big club of my own. Always had." Renes: "Building something myself from scratch."
Luxury
It had to be luxurious, with lots of facilities, and "a home away from home". Helmink: "Your other living room." When the premises on Haagse Klatteweg became vacant - the fitness club that was there quit - they made their move. They started simply, in a pretty dated building, and slowly worked towards the picture they had in mind. Renes: "We spent eight years renovating, from 2006 to 2014."
20-metre pool
It came with a 20-metre swimming pool, wellness facilities, an in-house physiotherapy practice, a childcare centre and a space for private yoga classes. Everything an athlete could wish for is now here under one roof. Exactly as they had hoped, Helmink beams.
'Private yoga can work very well, for example for certain complaints'
What catches the eye when you visit Max Health Club's website is the large selection (20) of personal trainers, in all shapes and sizes. From bronze, as it is called here, to platinum. From young and enthusiastic to seasoned or with a specialisation, such as yoga. Renes says, as he pushes open the door of the intimate studio especially for the latter purpose: "Private yoga can work very well, for example for certain complaints."
What catches the eye when you visit Max Health Club's website is the large selection (20) of personal trainers, in all shapes and sizes.
Another special option: private swimming lessons. "Never mastered the breast crawl properly? A few sessions with our trainer and you'll have it down." Over the next 15 years, Max's main aim is to continue doing what they are good at: offering a nice range in a cosy family atmosphere. In addition, the entrepreneurs will continue to innovate. "In the corona era, we have made a huge impact. The online class is a keeper. It is also very handy on holidays. And we are not done yet. For instance, you can now schedule an appointment in the personal trainer's diary yourself via an app."
