Sporthal De Pijl

The hall at Bachlaan 1 in Naaldwijk has a rhythm of its own. It opened in 1975, when the local gymnastics club c.g.v. D.O.S. Naaldwijk finally moved out of school halls and auction spaces. The work wrapped the exterior in natural slate and Trespa panels, updated the changing rooms and canteens, and tightened the insulation and fire safety to meet the times. The main hall still measures 44 by 30 metres, but now it can be divided into three sections with partition walls, each fitted with retractable stands that allow the space to hold more or fewer people depending on the day. The floating wooden floor remains natural wood, and the venue has settled into a routine that hosts badminton, futsal, handball, korfball and basketball. BC Mix Naaldwijk, FC Westland and the gymnastics club all claim a share, though the exact number of seats nobody seems to have written down. The building still carries the same name it had when it was first lit up in 1975, and it is operated by Optisport, which runs it as a practical appliance for whoever needs a roof over their head. The cost of the 2014 changes has not been made public, and that price has gone. What remains is a hall that raises the tempo when it needs to, without the fuss of a bigger arena.