Eekhouthal

The Eekhouthal does not look like a typical sports venue in Kwintsheul.

The hall is known to opponents for its sound. It is called "Hel van de Heul" because the noise bounces off the walls and the metal beams when the crowd cheers. Players find it difficult to hear instructions when the atmosphere is hot. The acoustics are a physical presence that teams have to react to, especially when they are closing in on a deal for a win. The space itself seems to amplify the pressure.

It is the home ground of Handbalvereniging Quintus, which plays in the top Dutch league. The club has used the venue since it opened in 1979, though the structure was extended and modernised later. The capacity is small, allowing supporters to stand close to the action. The team has not always been comfortable here; they have been frozen out by visitors who use the echo to their advantage. Yet the home side can raise the tempo when they need to, using the confined space to pin teams back.

The building also hosts wheelchair handball, including international matches against Hungary and Serbia. These games fill the stands just as much as the league fixtures. The venue is quiet when there is no action, but it becomes loud very quickly when the ball is in play. It is not a place where you can hide.