Amsterdam, 29 September 2025 – Amsterdam Hockey Club (AH&BC) is taking a significant step in the sporting world: as the first club in the Netherlands, it is making mental health support available to all its members. Where guidance has until now often been reserved for elite athletes, from today all 1,000 members aged 16 and over will have access to OpenUp, the platform for mental fitness and personal growth. With this, the Amsterdam hockey club aims to contribute to normalising mental health in sport. “Talking about how you’re doing and your challenges should be just as natural as physical training,” says top hockey player Freeke Moes, who speaks openly about performance pressure and stress.

Mental well-being in sport becoming increasingly important

Nearly three quarters of Dutch elite athletes deal with sport-related stress.[1] At the same time, research shows that 73% of elite athletes experience stress and that 40% of coaches have psychological complaints.[2] Although they typically receive support, mental challenges for amateur and recreational athletes remain underexposed. By giving all members access to OpenUp, AH&BC wants to show that mental support is not a luxury for elite athletes, but a basic provision for everyone. Gijs Coppens, healthcare psychologist and founder of OpenUp, sees the conversation about mental health in sport gaining momentum, but believes more attention needs to be paid to prevention: “Athletes invest hours in physical training, but mental fitness often remains a blind spot, or they don’t speak up because they feel they always have to appear strong. We want everyone to be able to talk openly about insecurities, performance pressure, motivation or personal problems. This partnership with AH&BC is an example of how clubs can create a safe environment for that.”

Two female field hockey players compete for the ball on a green field. The player in black is dribbling, while the player in red, number 38, is defending. Spectators are visible in the blurred background.

Freeke Moes

A role model for the sporting world

With this initiative, Amsterdam Hockey Club wants to demonstrate that mental support is an essential component, not just for their elite athletes, but for everyone. Alexandra Oswald of AH&BC: “Our members invest dozens of hours in physical training; mental fitness deserves the same attention. We see in elite sport what a difference it can make when athletes work with psychologists and coaches. But the wellbeing of all our members is just as important.” With this partnership, AH&BC contributes to normalising mental healthcare in sport. The club is calling on other associations to follow this example and make mental health as natural as physical training. “As a large club, we have a responsibility to lead by example,” says Alexandra. “We hope this is the start of a movement in which every athlete in the Netherlands gets the help they deserve.”

Freeke Moes, player for the Dutch national team: “For a long time I let my self-worth depend on my performance: if I made the squad, I mattered. And the other way around. Through talking, I discovered that my performances say nothing about who I am. I have learned that mental health is not just something to work on when things are going badly. Even now that things are going well, I keep working on it. That gives me tools and makes me stronger when things get tough.”

How does it work?

Members of AH&BC can from today make free use of:

Individual sessions with psychologists and health experts (such as nutritionists and sleep coaches), in more than 30 languages

Workshops and group sessions on topics such as managing stress, building self-confidence and recovering from injuries

Online courses and self-help resources to achieve personal goals

About OpenUp

OpenUp helps employees grow, at work and beyond. Through an accessible platform, OpenUp offers direct support to build and retain resilient and engaged teams. The service consists of three components: personal sessions with psychologists or physical health experts such as nutritionists or sleep experts, interactive group sessions and online courses. Unlike traditional EAPs or occupational health services, OpenUp focuses on direct, preventive help with mental health issues. Support is anonymous, without waiting lists and available in more than 35 languages. More than 2,000 organisations and 500,000 employees rely on OpenUp to reduce absenteeism, increase retention and strengthen the productivity and engagement of their employees. More information: www.openup.com

About AH&BC

The Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club (abbreviated AH&BC and for most members simply ‘Amsterdam’) is the oldest and one of the largest hockey clubs on the European continent. Since its founding in 1892, the club has grown into a vibrant association where elite sport and recreational sport go hand in hand. With more than 2,300 members, first teams that have never been relegated from the top division, and a long list of national and international titles, AH&BC is also one of the most successful hockey clubs in the world. Alongside the enjoyment of hockey, personal development, team spirit and a safe, inclusive club culture are central to everything the club does. AH&BC is a meeting place for everyone who loves hockey. Want to find out more about the club? Read more at www.ahbc.nl.