- About 75 church buildings close each year in the Netherlands, according to the national heritage agency
- Arnhem’s former Sint-Jozefkerk now operates as Holy Padel
- Gyms, trampoline parks and padel courts are common new uses
- Two-thirds of Dutch people surveyed prefer libraries, cultural centres or homes
The Netherlands is losing churches at a steady rate, and many are finding second lives as sports and leisure venues, NL Times reported in August 2026. About 75 church buildings close every year, according to the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands.
One example is the former Sint-Jozefkerk in Arnhem, which now operates as a padel court under the name Holy Padel. “We get visitors from all over the world,” said sports instructor Olaf van Baars.
Padel courts, trampoline parks and gyms are among the common conversions. Libraries, cultural centres and housing are also used as ways to keep closed churches in service.
Public opinion leans towards community uses. According to a Hart van Nederland panel survey, two-thirds of Dutch residents support converting closed churches into libraries, cultural centres or homes. Gyms, discotheques and hospitality venues such as breweries were less popular choices.
For Jamaican readers, the Dutch figures show how quickly a country’s religious property can change hands once attendance falls. Large church halls with open floors and high ceilings suit sports and events, which is why padel operators want them, but the public often prefers uses that serve the neighbourhood. Churches in Jamaica and in the UK diaspora deciding what to do with surplus buildings face the same choice between the best commercial return and the best community fit. Deciding early, and consulting neighbours, helps avoid a building standing empty while that debate plays out.
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