Northside Barbell is the student strength sports association in Groningen. The idea came up in 2012 among three powerlifters at ACLO, the first competition followed in 2013 and on 20 March 2014 the association was officially founded. You pay per semester, with the ACLO fee on top.
Training takes place on Bloemstraat, on platforms with decent barbells, calibrated plates and bumper plates, with kit from Eleiko and Rogue among others. There are training programmes from beginner to advanced, and besides powerlifters you'll find weightlifters here too.
What makes Northside strong is the competition side. There are mock meets with free coaching, so you can practise a meet before it counts. Together with the KNKF the association organises national competitions, such as the Northside Winter Cup and the NSK Powerliften (Dutch student championships) held in Groningen in October 2024.
On top of that: seminars, monthly drinks, a dedicated physiotherapist and an anti-doping policy. Still not sure? Come to a try-out first. No longer a student? There's also a supporter membership.
Competitions in Groningen and beyond
- Northside Barbell Cup 2027: 20 February 2027, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Beginner Meet Atlas 2026: 14 November 2026, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Lichtstad Cup 2026: 28 November 2026, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
All competitions are in the competition calendar.