Sweating in former hangar

Growing sports and hotel chain join hands

In the 900m2 former aircraft hangar at Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Fletcher Rotterdam Airport is opening a padel centre. The first for this hotel chain, but probably not the last. This is only the first step in a broader cooperation between Fletcher Hotels and PadelCity.

Barely 10 years ago, the sport of padel blew over from Spain to the Netherlands. None other than former football coach Guus Hiddink created this latest craze in our country. The combination of tennis and squash was seen by him as a good away training for footballers. He therefore had the first (unofficial) padel court built at the training complex of Eindhoven club PSV. Barely two years later, in March 2008, Hiddink, the uncrowned pioneer of the sport, opened the 100th padel court in the Netherlands. By 2019, our country will have 250 courts. 

Although padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, the Netherlands was not at the forefront of embracing the sport. It was only in 2013 that a Dutchman participated in the World Cup in Spain for the first time, and a year later the first padel instructor training programme emerged. Although the first NK took place in Rotterdam in 2017, the possibility of playing the sport in this city remained low for a long time.

Being active

Guests' expectations in hotels are high and changing. Technology occupies an increasingly important place and excellent service remains valued at all times. When it comes to amenities, expectations are also increasing. For some guests, organic amenities in the bathroom are an added value, but more and more guests want to be active during their stay. Padel is an accessible sport, ideal as a relaxation or networking opportunity. Since mid-October 2025, several modern courts have been built in the 10-metre-high hangar of the Fletcher Rotterdam Airport, including single courts for hotel guests, but local players are also welcome. With the opening of PadelCity Fletcher Rotterdam Airport, Fletcher Hotels is taking the next step in its strategy to position its locations more as complete experience destinations. 

From hockey to padel

Olympic hockey champion and co-owner of PadelCity, Fatima Moreira de Melo is an avid player in addition to being one of the tournament directors and ambassador of Decathlon Premier Padel Rotterdam. She was therefore the obvious person to open the padel court, a collaboration between Fletcher Rotterdam Airport and PadelCity. “It really is a bizarre grassroots sport, with no national hero left in the sport,” Moreira de Melo stated about padel's growing popularity in an interview following the Decathlon Premier Padel Rotterdam with sportnieuws.nl. CEO Fletcher Hotels Rob Hermans adds; “We see that guests increasingly value sports and health. By integrating padel in our hotels, we combine relaxation, exercise and accommodation in one place. We want to roll out this concept in more locations.”

Relaxation and hospitality come together

With the arrival of the padel courts, Fletcher Rotterdam Airport brings relaxation and hospitality together. After a game of padel, during your stay, as a resident or during an event, it is great to freshen up in the modern changing rooms and then enjoy a snack and a drink in the adjoining sports bar and then dream away in one of the 116 rooms. 

Also want to play a game of padel near the airport? Via a dedicated WhatsApp group, you can easily find other players for a game or open match. Using the Playtomic app, available for iOS or Android, you can easily choose and book your preferred court and time.