Share This Article
Exercise is healthy. Both for your body and for your mental health. But we don’t do it enough. That’s why we have an exercise guideline in the Netherlands that tells you how much exercise you should do each week. Even if it’s just to indicate how much exercise you need – it’s not mandatory. So exercise is good for you, but more exercise is better. Why not combine this with dating?
Given the growing awareness of a healthy lifestyle, it makes perfect sense to combine exercise with dating. It doesn’t even matter if it’s the first date or the hundredth, with a sporty date you kill two birds with one stone. It’s a win-win situation for everyone, as far as we’re concerned. But which sporty date should you choose?
24 Sporty Date Ideas
We all love good food and watching a movie. But not every day. Sometimes it’s nice to switch things up. The same routine every time gets boring, especially if it doesn’t fit your active lifestyle. The alternative? That’s the sporty date.
Sporty dates don’t have to cost a lot of money, and they don’t require a lot of effort to set up. All you really need is a good mood, a little fitness, and a little preparation. Even if you’ve only known someone for a short while or have been married for many years, sporty dates can be a way to have fun and get closer to each other. Here are 24 sporty date ideas that will get you moving.
1. Walk the dogs
We start with a light form of exercise: walking. If one of you has a dog, take a long walk with the dog together. It is a relatively light form of exercise, but any form of exercise counts.
2. Play miniature golf
When we talk about midget golf (or mini golf), most people see it as a holiday activity in a tourist resort. But we also have midget golf courses in the Netherlands. If you don’t have the perseverance or skills to brave a real golf course, an 18-hole mini course is the perfect solution.
3. Bowl
Put on your bowling shoes and try to knock down all ten pins. Walking up and down the lane provides some exercise, while the score can fuel the competitive spirit. The winner deserves a kiss? Strike .
4. Table tennis
Is there a table tennis table somewhere near you? Then ping pong is a fun and sporty idea. It is also easy to end, for example if you notice that your opponent is not doing well – and is disappointed about that. If it is going well, you can expand it to a best of five tournament. In addition to the necessary exercise, you can also talk to each other in the meantime.
ALSO READ: 114 Best Date Ideas for First, Second and More Dates
5. Sledding
When it gets colder outside, you don’t have to stay inside. Your natural reaction to a blanket of snow is probably to grab a hot cup of cocoa with your date, but that’s always an option. If you have the opportunity to take advantage of the snow, consider sledding. Borrow a sled and head to the nearest hill to sled down it. Walking up the hill each time is a sneaky hill workout.
6. Skating
When it snows, chances are that the canals and lakes are also frozen. That makes them suitable for skating. Or if you have an ice rink nearby, that’s even better. Skate romantically hand in hand or compete for the fastest lap.
7. Spinningklas
Do you want to do more than just exercise, but go all the way? With a spinning class, you come together for a tough workout. If you work out at the same gym, you can take a group lesson together. Or you can take a day pass to do it together once. Spinning is intense, but a fun way to get moving.
8. Fell
If you want to try something different than tennis or squash, padel is a sport to consider. Although padel looks like both, it is different. For example, the padel court is smaller than a tennis court and there are no walls that you can use, as is the case with squash. Padel is extremely suitable for a sporty date idea, because the number of padel courts is growing rapidly in the Netherlands.
9. Tubing
Never heard of tubing? Tubing is a sport that is practiced on water and on land. You sit on a rubber ring and slide down a ski slope at high speed. On the water you hang behind a jet ski or boat. The sporting advantage? That you have to use your abdominal muscles to not fall off.
10. Sponsored walk
Dating, being sporty and also doing something good for the world? It is possible with a sponsored run. Take part in a running competition with your date to raise money for charity. Get sponsored by your family, friends and acquaintances and make it a memorable date idea.
11. Snorkeling
Now, you probably won’t look your best with a mask and snorkel on, but snorkeling is a fun activity to do as a couple. Take a snorkeling lesson together in a nearby recreation area or do it without a guide. All lakes and pools with clear water and little wave action are suitable for snorkeling.
ALSO READ: Couples Have More in Common Than We Think’
12. Mudrun
Combining running with a date and adventure? If this is what you have in mind, then a mud run is exactly what you are looking for. These are obstacle course-style competitions that combine running with climbing, crawling and jumping. Truly trudging through the mud may not be a good idea for a first date, but it is for sporty couples who want a fun outing.
13. Suppen (stand-up paddling)
Paddle boarding is an emerging sport. You stand on a supboard and steer the direction with a paddle. Give your arms, legs and core a workout while enjoying the calm water around you. Take turns paddling and share the view with your date.
14. Canoeing
If you prefer to stay seated, canoeing is a better alternative. Of course, this is also more of a date you plan in the summer and not in the winter. You train your arm muscles while discovering the most beautiful waters of the Netherlands.
15. Trampoline jumping
No, trampolines are not just for children. Trampoline parks also offer fun for adults. Do it together with your date to make it a great day out. Take a jumping lesson together or do it without supervision. Jumping, that’s what it’s called, is fun, sporty and accessible to everyone.
16. Archery
Anyone who has seen The Hunger Games has had a secret desire to shoot a bow and arrow ever since. Why not make that wish come true on a date? An archery workshop doesn’t cost the earth and it’s a fun experience to do as a couple. Maybe not only will you and your date hit the target, but Cupid will too.
17. Roller skating
Even though you probably don’t have a pair of roller skates lying around the house, roller skating is a fun way to explore your own city. Be sensible if you’ve never done it before and wear knee and elbow pads to protect your joints.
ALSO READ: Is He The One? Not If He Does These 25 Things
18. Strandvolleybal
Lying on a towel on the beach all day is not your thing? Enjoying the sun is also possible if you keep moving with beach volleyball. Play one-on-one or join a group. Beach volleyball is a guarantee for sweating, because exercise in the hot sun and loose sand is harder than you think.
19. Rock climbing
If you’re looking for something a little more daring and adventurous, rock climbing is a date idea to consider. Find a qualified instructor to take you to greater heights. Safety first, of course. The instructor will teach you the ins and outs of climbing and will know exactly which rocks are safe to climb… and which aren’t. For a healthy dose of adrenaline, rock climbing is a worthy sport to consider as a sporty date.
20. Indoor climbing
Is climbing rocks outside a bit too crazy for you? Then you can also start in an indoor climbing hall as a beginner. Indoor climbing is fun to do together, because it also requires a form of cooperation. Your date can be the belayer while you climb the wall and vice versa. If it is raining outside, an indoor activity is a perfect idea.
ALSO READ: One-Sided Relationship? 22 Signs It’s Coming from One Side
21. Cycling
Unless you commute 10 kilometers to work every day, biking is a fun and relaxing activity to do together. The level is up to you, so if you want to make it an active date , simply increase the intensity. No matter what speed you ride, a bike ride around your neighborhood is never a bad date idea.
22. Hiking
How about a long hike through a wooded and hilly area? Hiking may not be suitable for a first date , because you will be on the road for six hours with someone who has nothing to say in real life, but it is suitable if you know someone a bit better. You can choose between a leisurely two-kilometer walk or a long hike in the countryside.
23. Dancing
From street dance to salsa, there is no better way to get your body moving. If you also want to share some intimate time with your partner, take a dance class together. Go to a dance school near you and get to know different styles such as modern, hip hop and ballroom.
ALSO READ: 35 Playful Dates to Keep Your Relationship Alive
24. Running
Increase your endorphins together by going for a run. Now, a fast pace is not recommended if you want to have a conversation, so jogging probably sounds a bit better. Running with your date is at least a prospect for a healthy relationship.
P.S. Are you already following Gistinger.com on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter?