Welcome to ASSV Esprit, the student fencing club of Amsterdam! We're an inclusive and friendly group, open to everyone — not just university students. You can fence all three weapons with us: foil, sabre, and epee. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned fencer, you’ll find a welcoming and passionate community here!
Location: USC Universum, Science Park 306, 1098XH Amsterdam
Contact: info@assvesprit.nl [more]
| Monday: | 19:00-20:30 |
| Friday: | 20:00-22:00 |
*Don’t have your own fencing gear yet? You're welcome to borrow equipment from the sports centre during training :)
We continue training over the summer!
[July-Aug] On Mondays we fence from 19:00 to 21:30, and on Fridays from 20:00 to 21:30. If no coach is present — open fencing!
New to fencing? Join our 9-week beginner course, running every Monday from 20:30 to 22:00. There are four starting dates per year — September, November, February, and April. To ensure safety, we ask all newcomers to complete the beginner course before participating in regular training sessions.
Experienced fencers may come to our regular sessions right away! You can fence any of the three weapons in all trainings. If a coach is present, they'll lead a group warm-up, then give several 5-min individual lessons in their respective weapon.
Foil: Coach Patrick is available on Monday.
Sabre/Epee: Coach Sacha and Coach Eren take turns leading Friday trainings.
Our trainings and beginner courses are organised by USC, the student sports centre of Amsterdam. They offer reduced rates to students of universities like UvA, VU, and HvA.
Fencing training is part of their Martial Arts subscription (starting from €12/month for students). You can register for the beginner course (€72 for students) from 5 weeks before each start date. For more details, check out their website or stop by the front desk.
*note: check for trial membership deals first :)
Club membership (€35/year) is optional for training, but essential if you want to take part in our awesome social events or compete in official tournaments. Your membership also helps us maintain our club equipment and keep things running smoothly.
Fencing should be a fun and safe space for everyone. If you experience or witness something that makes you uncomfortable — bullying, discrimination, inappropriate behaviour — you can talk to someone confidentially.
The confidential contact person (VCP) of Esprit is independent from both the board and the coaching staff, and can be reached at vcp.assvesprit@gmail.com. They are also happy to chat in person at trainings or over WhatsApp.
Our current trust person, Aurora, is a student fencer and long-time member of the club. She is here for social dynamics issues, such as conflicts between members or things that happen at events outside of training. She attended NOC*NSF VCP course in Sept 2025.
More serious matters that happen during trainings can be directed to USC's confidential advisor, Eveline Philipse, at vertrouwenspersoon@uscsport.nl. [read more]
Have questions? We’d love to hear from you!
Email: info@assvesprit.nl
Chair - Lily, Secretary - Rose, Treasurer - Zoey, General Board Members - Noah, Shihao
Andrea is our designated contact person responsible for handling membership requests from students with special needs. She will discuss possible accommodations with our coaches and connect you with the appropriate contacts at SSA (Stichting Studentensport Amsterdam) for guidance.
Messages to our general club email with the subject line [Inclusivity] will be automatically directed to Andrea. She is also happy to chat in person at trainings or over WhatsApp.
Social Media:
Social
Our Community
Our members are mostly university students, and we have a range of experience levels. Whether you've just finished your introductory course, or you're an experienced fencer returning to the sport after a break, you'll feel right at home here!
Social Events
Fencing isn’t just about the sport — it’s also about building friendships and having fun! After training, we often head to Oerknal Café for drinks. Throughout the year, we organise exciting social events like BBQs, Halloween parties, Sinterklaas celebrations, ice skating outings, and more.
Tournaments
To compete in official tournaments, you'll need to be a registered member of the Dutch fencing federation (KNAS) through a club. This is mandatory for insurance purposes and helps fund fencing activities in the Netherlands. KNAS membership costs around €35/year for youth (under 23) and €70/year for seniors (23 and older). For up-to-date information, visit their website.
Esprit Calendar
Don't forget to subscribe to our Esprit Google Calendar to stay updated on upcoming tournaments and social events!
*Click the + sign on the preview window to add it to your Google Calendar, or copy the link above to your preferred calendar apps (Samsung/Outlook/Apple).
Hope to see you at training soon!