Bokszak Weesp

From lockdown to the park

Bokszak Weesp began when four athletes from Weesp, including our own Kev, were forced to train outdoors during the lockdowns. Amsterdam already had more than thirty punching bags free for anyone to use in public spaces, and Weesp deserved one too. One public vote, one info night with mulled wine, and three permit applications later, the alderman cut a ribbon made of boxing wraps. The bag has been there ever since, and it is not going anywhere.

The first year was funded by the municipality and Weesperkei, and in the years that followed, Yamato Gym kept the bag hanging as its local partner. Thank you for that. Since 2026, De Vechtclub has taken over, and it feels like coming home. Bokszak Weesp was Kev's initiative, and now that he has his own club in Weesp, he can finally shoulder the bag himself.

Step 1: your gear

Some people train with bare knuckles, but a little protection goes a long way toward preventing injuries. What to buy, what to skip, and in what order is all in our gear guide. Outdoors, there are a handful of differences:

• Keep your shoes on. Leave the elastic on your shin guards above your shoe. Under your foot, it will wear out.
• Grab gloves that can handle a little rain. As a beginner, the brand does not matter much, as long as there is something between your knuckles and the bag.
• Headphones for music or an audio workout.
• Cold? Wear lots of layers, then peel them off as you warm up.

Step 2: your spot

The bag is in Sinnigvelderplantsoen, by the outdoor fitness area across from Vechtstede College. Always open, never a line, maybe just a quick chat. Please be considerate of the neighbors and do not train in the middle of the night.

Step 3: your workout

Keeping yourself moving for half an hour is harder than it sounds. Scan the QR code on the sign by the bag for a free audio workout at your level, or build your own circuit. It adds variety and structure. And share your workout with #bokszakweesp, because the more action the bag gets, the easier it is to keep it hanging there.

Good to know

• Free, no catch. No signup, no app, no fine print. Show up, hit, head home.
• Maintenance. The bag is maintained by the Boogieland Foundation, which looks after more than forty of them in Amsterdam. Is something crooked or broken? Send us a message and we will take care of the rest.
• New Year's. Around New Year's Eve, we bring the bag inside for a little while. It always comes back.

In the media

• "A punching bag is a great way to let out your frustration", WeesperNieuws
• "Boxing outdoors: passersby cheer people on", Het Parool
• "We want to become the Cruyff Court of boxing", Het Parool

Thanks to

The bag is there thanks to the Boogieland Foundation (installation and maintenance), the municipality of Weesp and Weesperkei (the first year), now also the municipality of Amsterdam, and Roos Duijs and Maartje Piersma, who championed the initiative from day one.