Een kast vol passie voor crossfitfanaat Daan Toolenaar

A cabinet full of passion for crossfit enthusiast Daan Toolenaar

A cabinet for your collection of books, kitchenware, model trains, hobby materials: at Lundia, we encounter the most wonderful questions, often born from a passion. That's what energizes us! That's why, under the banner of "a cabinet full of passion," we visit people who passionately share what drives them.

A workout room with barbells, weights, and graffiti where two men are sweating during a tough exercise session. When we step inside at Daan Toolenaar’s (34) place, our image of a typical crossfit gym is fully confirmed. “This is the best of the Netherlands pushing themselves here,” Daan introduces the two athletes. “They are preparing for ‘The Beach Throwdown,’ a large crossfit event.” Daan is one of the first to introduce crossfit in the Netherlands. The sport, which came over from America, is now wildly popular.

Open houten kast met stapel zware zwarte gewichten en drie hexagonale dumbbells in sportschoolomgeving

Stronger through struggle

Daan's passion for sports began at an early age. He took a sports academy and was often found at the gym. Initially, he trained, but he quickly became captivated by CrossFit. "I often went to circuit training sessions, where you really have to push yourself to the limit. One of the trainers said, 'Daan, CrossFit is really for you.' It was a sport that wasn't yet known in the Netherlands. I dove in and spent an entire weekend watching all the CrossFit YouTube videos on my laptop. I was instantly hooked. I love that feeling of being completely exhausted and then still pushing myself even further. That builds character." Daan wanted to make the most of his passion and opened his own CrossFit gym in Ridderkerk. I did that in a corner of the gym where I worked. We soon opened a second gym in Rotterdam: Crossfit SDS (Stronger Through Struggle). That didn't quite work out as we'd hoped, so we looked elsewhere. We noticed there still wasn't a CrossFit gym in Dordrecht. We jumped at the chance with our current gym, which was incredibly successful right away. Six years later, we've had to implement a membership freeze, so it was a luxury problem.

Physical and mental boost

Besides CrossFit, Daan has another passion. He recently started working part-time for the Air Force, with the Air Force Reserve Group (GLR). "The GLR provides security for the eleven military airfields in the Netherlands," he says. "I'm currently completing General Military Training (AMO), which is mandatory for everyone. After this, I'll be doing a follow-up program. It's suitable for part-time workers, so it combines well with the gym, especially now that it's going so well." What does he enjoy most about having his own CrossFit gym? "With this sport, you can really see the progress people make. Some people who come here for the first time have retreated a bit. After a few months, you see them suddenly stand up straight and become much more confident. Besides the physical aspect, CrossFit also provides a huge mental boost. You're constantly achieving results, which gives you confidence. It's great to play a role in that as a coach."

CrossFit also creates wonderful moments outside of the gym. "A few months ago, a couple who met here at the gym got married," Daan offers as a great example. "I was able to attend the wedding, which was a special moment. CrossFit is bigger than the sport itself; it truly creates a community."

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