Start of Expansion of Multifunctional Sports Building Jekerdal

Today marks the start of construction of the new multifunctional changing and club building for football club SC Jekerdal and Atletiek Maastricht at Jekerdal sports park. The new building includes 2 changing rooms, referee rooms, accessible toilets, a laundry room, mobile storage, and a strength training room. This meets a long-held need, caused by strong growth of the clubs in recent years and the loss of the Biesland building.

First: self-managed construction via Right to Challenge

This project is special because it is realized through the Right to Challenge principle. This means the sports park carries out the construction itself, while the municipality of Maastricht provides financing and – through a small delegation in the construction team – supervises execution according to specifications and permits.

Thanks to this setup, the clubs can approach the market themselves and parts of the work are done by volunteers. This results in savings of approximately 300,000 euros on a total investment of 930,000 euros. Additionally, Right to Challenge leads to higher quality: because the clubs can directly translate their own wishes and user knowledge into design and execution, the building becomes more functional, sustainable, and better suited to sports practice. This is the first time the municipality of Maastricht executes a construction project this way.

Preparatory work started today. Completion is expected in December 2026. After completion, the municipality will formally take over the building, which will then be rented out to Sports Park Jekerdal.

Broader investment in outdoor sports

The expansion of the club building is part of a broader package of investments in outdoor sports. The municipal government will invest a total of 2.9 million euros in sports facilities in Maastricht in the coming years. A new cricket field has already been realized at Sports Park West and artificial turf fields are planned at the Daalhof and Wolder sports parks. Additionally, work is underway on a play-friendly environment at the Groene Loper, Belfort, and Vlinderboom child centers. This is a stepwise investment in future-proof sports and play facilities for the entire city.

Background of the clubs

Football club Jekerdal, with over 900 members, is the largest football club in Maastricht. Founded in 1916, it has built a strong and connecting role within the neighborhood and city over more than a century. Atletiek Maastricht has about 800 runners and 100 walkers. Founded in 1925, it is an important sports base for both recreational and more competitive athletes. Both clubs are over 100 years old, firmly rooted in Maastrichts sports history and closely involved in the development of the sports park.

Alderman for sports Hubert Mackus: 

“This project shows what is possible when government and clubs find each other as partners. Thanks to Right to Challenge, we can build faster, smarter, and more efficiently together. This is the first time this approach is applied within the municipality of Maastricht and we are proud that this new way of working together yields both financial and social benefits.”

Board member Stichting Faciliteitengebouw Jekerdal and former chairman football club Jekerdal Emile Slijpen: 

“For our club, this is a milestone we have been looking forward to for years. Thanks to the Right to Challenge construction, we had the opportunity to take responsibility ourselves and help build the future of our sports park. This not only creates room for growth but also strengthens the club feeling and involvement of our members.” 

Chairman Atletiek Maastricht, Danny Zonneveld: 

“The expansion is urgently needed due to the increase in our athletes and activities. We are happy to participate as an equal partner in this new club building. It is nice to see that our commitment and expertise directly contribute to a safe and future-proof facility for our athletes.”