Health & Fitness

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Essentials

Expat fitness

Moving abroad isn’t just about starting a new job, learning the language and setting up home. Once you’ve arrived and settled in, you’ll probably want to find out where you can play your favourite sport, the best places to run or walk in your neighbourhood or where to find the best dance classes or sailing lessons if you're on a coast. Start by checking out the local expat leagues, expat gyms, and other sports associations. For instance, an expat in the Netherlands should start with ‘A guide to Dutch sports clubs and associations’. Why not take up a national sport? For instance, in the Netherlands, try sailing, or take up winter sports in Switzerland. Even if your sport is obscure, you’ll find that most countries will have a club associated with it, whether it’s football, cricket, rugby, skiing, swimming, tennis or squash, baseball, scuba diving or hand-gliding.

Expat and local telegraph wire

Use connections(Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, UK) to find the locations of the best places to practise a sport or to keep fit. Ask other expats which dancing schools they’d recommend for their children, which swimming school they use, the best pools to take the children to, for recreation or for serious training. If you are more into yoga and Pilates, then find out where the best teachers give classes and try it out. The best result can only be a healthier and happier you.

International sports clubs and other groups

If you’d like to join an international club, the American football team or International Women’s football club (yes, they could exist!) then check out Expatica’s Groups & Clubs listings on the Forums & Connect channel (Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, UK) and also on our A-Z listings by category under Groups & Clubs and Fitness. Existing clubs include the British Rugby Club of Paris, The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, which has branches in all Expatica countries, and the Brussels Kangaroos Baseball Club. You can even take up Morris dancing in the Netherlands!

Laura Dekker says she’s more of a doer than a dreamer but with her plans to become the youngest ever person to solo circumnavigate the globe now in tatters, she’ll be left to ponder what might have been.

03/04/2009 Health clubs in Brussels

Expatica's pages contain all you will need to settle in Belgium, essential tips that cover everything from importing your car to to the best health clubs in the capital.

10/07/2008 Summer fun - Swimming pools and beaches

Our suggestions for outdoor activities for the family this summer - swimming pools and beaches on the Côte d'Azur.

02/08/2006 Where Jesse Owens slept

The 1936 Olympics took place in Berlin 70 years ago this month. We visit the former Olympic Village and see where American hero Jesse Owens stayed during the games.

Visit our country sites

Expat fitness

Expat fitness

Expat fitness

Expat and local telegraph wire

International sports clubs and other groups

Fitness & Sports - Essential Articles

05/09/2009 Laura Dekker: born for the waves

03/04/2009 Health clubs in Brussels

10/07/2008 Summer fun - Swimming pools and beaches

02/08/2006 Where Jesse Owens slept