Pearl of The Langstraat: De Hoge Heide Vlijmen

In the summer of 2021, De Hoge Heide will exist for 10 years. I think they are as ambitious as when they started. Peter de Ruijter and his team don't let themselves get out of soccer, squash, tennis, uhm, out of any field! A few weeks ago, I had a fun conversation with Peter about how it once started and tell you about the latest fun activities! Are you reading along?

From Soccerhome.nl to owner of De Hoge Heide
Peter de Ruijter has always had the ambition to start his own business. During his studies in Sittard, he got the assignment to put on paper how an indoor soccer hall should look like, if he would start his own hall. In Aachen (DE), where he was from his studies, he became familiar with and enthusiastic about the soccergame. Not just the game, but the total experience around it, from decor upon entering to the stadium feel. "I liked that game so much that I stuck in that and that's what I wanted," Peter relates.
He was pointed to the De Hoge Heide location , where indoor tennis courts had become less profitable. So in 2011, Peter started renting an indoor tennis hall that he turned into indoor soccer courts. His ultimate plan: start ten successful soccer fields in different halls in the Netherlands. Three quarters of a year later, the landlord of De Hoge Heide went bankrupt and Peter seized this opportunity with both hands.

Innovative and surprising
Day work soon became night work as well, and so Peter decided to focus fully on De Hoge Heide. They offer a myriad of activities, but they think it is important to be innovative and surprising. Despite this difficult period, you can see how ambitious they are at De Hoge Heide. "I am not good at sitting still," Peter indicates, and he and his team have used this turbulent period to set up five new activities. One is Kanjam, an interactive frisbee game that is very popular in America. Of course I won't give away the other four activities, for that I refer you to the website or recommend calling for a personal consultation with the team at De Hoge Heide so they can make your day fit and take everything completely off your hands, if desired.
Another great tip is video bowling. I have seen the many possibilities and it makes your bowling fun for both young and old even more fun. Besides the goal of throwing a spare, or better yet a strike, you can play a second game with fun graphics projected on the lane. In addition to special effects, you can also score extra points by rolling over special points on the course. A real added value and again surprising and innovative!

More than just an activity venue
There is so much to do at De Hoge Heide. In the beginning it was very sports-oriented, but over the years this has increasingly become a combination of sports and fun. Many family outings, corporate events and children's parties fill the day. "Each activity provides a different audience," Peter points out. "We distinguish ourselves in the good and fun activities and taking care of outings, events and parties to perfection." There are also plenty of options for parties, dinners and they are currently working hard to raise the profile of lunch.
With their own Tuk Tuk, they can deliver and are at events with their soup, pizza, sandwiches and ice cream, for example. It is so much more than just an activity venue.

Ambition
I mentioned it briefly earlier: Peter is bursting with ambition. He doesn't sit back and relax. Every year Peter wants to expand with new fun activities. In addition, they are in consultation with other sports clubs and the municipality, for example, to reorganize the land on and around the sports field. This includes thinking about, for example, housing, parking facilities, social control in the neighborhood, as well as sharing common burdens and strengthening each other.
He himself is also committed to an outdoor playground, a better view of the beautiful terrace and being part of a break or the starting point of cycling and walking routes.
Together you achieve more than alone, and with the ambition and attitude I see this 2025 goal coming together. But now first, on to your 10th anniversary!

Want to know more about De Hoge Heide? Then click here!