Corona: rules for gyms and fitness centres

Which businesses may (re)open?

These businesses may reopen for business from 1 July if they comply with the requirements:

gyms
fitness centres, fitness clubs
saunas and wellness centres
yoga studios
dance studios
other indoor sports accommodations

Please note: sports and other club canteens may reopen as of 1 July if they follow the rules for the hospitality sector.

Rules for the fitness industry

If your gym or fitness centre reopens for indoor sports, you must follow these rules:

Ventilation

Ensure good ventilation. Use fresh air for ventilation as much as possible, preferably 100%.
Open doors and windows regularly, also in sanitary areas.
Turn your ventilation system on high. Leave the ventilation system on at a lower setting for a couple of hours after your customers have left.
Do not use areas for sports if you cannot ventilate them well.

1.5 metres distance and your customers

Both staff and customers must maintain 1.5 metres distance, inside as well as outside of your facilities.
Provide walking routes and/or dividing sections.
Use a reservation system so you know who is present in your gym or sports centre. Only members are allowed in.
Keep the reservation records for 4 weeks in a log in case a source and contact investigation is necessary.
Your customers participate in a health check.
Catering facilities may open. The 1.5 metres distancing and other rules for the hospitality sector apply here as well. Your customers can eat and drink within their reserved time slot. Payments are made by debit card (pin) or direct debit.

Please note: if you do not use a reservation system and/or do not perform health checks on your visitors, a maximum of 100 persons is allowed inside your accommodation.

Hygiene rules for gyms

Changing rooms, showers and toilets are available. Everyone must clean these after use. You ensure there are cleaning supplies available.
Clean toilets and showers several times a day.
Place disinfectant gel at every tap and door or offer your clients the opportunity to wash their hands.
Place disinfectant products with all your equipment so your customers can clean the equipment they used.
Leave doors open. Clean door handles at least 5 times a day.
Trash cans are only used for used cleaning wipes. Customers take home their own trash. You clean trash cans 5 times a day.

Safety and hygiene for customers

Inform you customers on the hygiene rules upon entering the facilities. These rules for your clients are displayed on your company website as well. The rules are:

You must perform and your customers must participate in the health check (triage). You ask them beforehand if they have any corona symptoms. Use the RIVM's (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) health check document for visitors. You have to ask among others of they have any health issues such as coughing, sneezing, (slight) fever, loss of smell and/or taste, health issues of housemates and if you or your housemates and/or other contacts have (had) an infection with the coronavirus or any symptoms.
They have to remain home if they are ill of have been ill in the past 72 hours.
They must avoid physical contact (except in contact sports) and maintain 1.5 metres distance from others.
They must keep to their allotted time slot.
They bring their own towel and drinking bottle.
They have to wash their hands with disinfectant or soap upon entering your facilities.
They must follow the instructions of your staff.
They clean any equipment they used themselves.
They take home their own stuff, including their trash.

Safety and hygiene for your staff

Provide your staff with extensive instructions on all (hygiene) rules. If and when these rules are adjusted or additional rules are added, you inform your staff as soon as possible.
You must also perform health checks on your staff before they start work. Use RIVM’s checklist (in Dutch). If they are ill they may not work.
Reception staff are behind a screen if it is impossible to maintain 1.5 metres distance. They wear recognisable company clothing. They only process payments by debit card or direct debit.
Personal protective gear, such as face masks, gloves and safety glasses are not mandatory.
If at all possible there is a separate (changing) room with toilet for your staff.
Appoint a staff member who is responsible for ensuring all (corona-related) rules are upheld.
Work they can do at home, they do not do in your establishment.

Lessons and training (indoors and outdoors)

Cardio and strength equipment can be used by 1 person at a time. They maintain 1.5 metres distance from other customers and staff
During 1-on-1 training customer and trainer maintain 1.5 distance
During group training participants and trainer maintain 1.5 metres distance. Use sections to point out where participants may stand. Preferably you provide only group trainings where participants stay in place.

Basic corona rules

The basic corona rules remain in place. These are among others:

Wash your hands often.
Cough and sneeze into your elbow.
Use paper tissues to blow your nose and discard them after use.
Do not shake hands with others.
Maintain 1.5 metres (2 arms lengths) distance from other people.
Stay home if you have any corona-like symptoms such as for instance a cold, tightness of the chest or a (slight) fever. And get tested if you have 1 or more symptoms. Stay at home until you have the results.

Also check RIVM's attention points for sauna and wellness and for indoor sports.

Protocol for the fitness industry

Sector organisation NL Actief has drawn up a protocol for the fitness industry (in Dutch). This protocol explains the rules in detail. You can also check the frequently asked questions (in Dutch).

Protocols for related sectors

Saunas and wellness (in Dutch)
Yoga studio’s (in Dutch)
Dance studio’s (in Dutch)

You can find the most recent versions of the various protocols on the Dutch-language website Mijn coronaprotocol. Please note: a protocol is not legislation, but an elaboration of the RIVM's advice for the workplace.