Algemene Groninger Studenten Roeivereniging Gyas

A.G.S.R. Gyas (Algemene Groninger Studenten Roeivereniging Gyas) is a Dutch student rowing club based in Groningen. It was founded on 12 May 1964, when female students and students who were not members of Vindicat could previously only row at the general club KGR De Hunze; because that club no longer had room for the growing number of students, a new student rowing association was established. The club's colours are black, white and cognac, and its uniform consists of a white shirt with a black band running from the right shoulder to the left hip. Gyas describes itself as the largest student rowing club in the Netherlands, with more than 1,250 members and more than 25 partners. It has produced 11 Olympians and holds 10 course records. The club is located on the Noord-Willemskanaal near the Julianabrug and the Julianaplein junction in Groningen, where its boathouse has stood since December 1986. The original boathouse at the Oostersluis was destroyed by arson by vandals on New Year's Eve 1984, which accelerated the search for a new location. A new boathouse was built with the help of members, sponsors and the University of Groningen, and it opened in December 1986. The club has remained there since. Rowing at Gyas, as at other student rowing clubs, is mainly practised at two levels: competitive rowing and the more intensive race rowing. Around 70 people take part in the latter each year, competing against all rowing clubs at national rowing competitions and, for more experienced rowers, at international competitions representing the Netherlands through the rowing federation. The basis of race rowing is formed by first-year eights in the categories of lightweight men, heavyweight men and women; for lightweight women there has been a lightweight women's quadruple sculls class since 2012. Sporting highlights include silver medals at the Olympic Games for Anneke Venema in Sydney (women's eight), Jan-Willem Gabriëls in Athens (men's eight) and Ymkje Clevering in Tokyo (women's four). At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rogier Blink (Holland 8+), Paul Drewes (LM4-) and Jan-Willem Gabriëls (Holland four) represented Gyas, a record number of rowers for the club at the Games, finishing fourth, sixth and eighth respectively. In London, Gyas rowers appeared again, with Rogier Blink in the Holland Acht and Nanne Sluis in the pair, finishing fifth and eleventh. Gyas was also active with two rowers at the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympics: Joris Pijs and Sophie Souwer in Rio, and Sophie Souwer and Ymkje Clevering in Tokyo. In 2023, two Gyas rowers became world champions in an Olympic event for the first time: Ymkje Clevering and Marloes Oldenburg won gold in the women's pair and women's four without coxswain respectively. At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, two (former) members of A.G.S.R. Gyas won gold medals: Ymkje Clevering won gold in the coxless pair together with Veronique Meester, and Marloes Oldenburg won gold in the coxless four together with Hermijntje Drenth, Tinka Offereins and Benthe Boonstra. The club has also performed well at World Cups and European and World Championships. In the summer of 2007, Jan-Willem Gabriëls won two silver and one gold medal in the four at the World Cups, taking the overall classification. Paul Drewes won one silver in the lightweight pair and two bronzes in the lightweight four at the World Cups. Rogier Blink won bronze with the Holland Acht in Belgrade in 2012, and in the same year Joris Pijs won gold in Lucerne in the lightweight pair with a national record and silver at the World Cup in Munich. At the 2007 World Championships, Dennis Beemsterboer became world champion in the lightweight eight. Jan-Willem Gabriëls also won bronze at both the 2006 World Championships in Eton and the 2007 World Championships in Munich.

A.G.S.R. Gyas was founded on 12 May 1964. Until then, female students and students who were not members of Vindicat could only row at the general association KGR De Hunze. Because that association no longer had room for the ever-growing numbers of students, a new student rowing association was established. The club's colours are black, white and cognac, and its uniform consists of a white shirt with a black band running from the right shoulder to the left hip. Gyas was long located at the Oostersluis in Groningen, until the boathouse was set on fire by vandals on New Year's Eve 1984. A large part of the fleet and the boathouse were lost, and the search for a new location (which had already begun because of expansion plans for the Oostersluis) suddenly had to be greatly accelerated. In consultation with G.S.R. Aegir, which also had to move, Gyas chose a location on the Noord-Willemskanaal near the Julianabrug and the Julianaplein junction. With the combined efforts of members and contributions from sponsors and the University of Groningen, a new boathouse was built, which opened in December 1986. Gyas is still located there today. From 2000, a committee worked on preparing a renovation of the boathouse. Because of the enormously growing membership, the accommodation had become too small. In March 2006 the members' meeting took a far-reaching decision about future accommodation. Housing corporation De Huismeesters was to develop a new residential tower above Gyas's current building, of which Gyas would then have the first two floors at its disposal. However, due to future expansion plans for the junction on the southern ring road of Groningen (the Julianaplein), near which Gyas is located, the 'flat plan' was definitively abandoned in May 2007. The club therefore looked further at its own expansion possibilities within the zoning plan. On 3 March 2008 work began on expanding the boathouse. This renovation was completed in the summer of 2008, and on 12 September 2008 the renovated Bootenhuysch was officially opened. Due to Gyas's enormous growth in the years after the renovation, other facilities also proved no longer adequate. In 2012 it was decided to purchase a new and enlarged pontoon. This pontoon replaced the old one, which had served for more than 10 years. From 2018, further expansion of the boathouse has even been considered, with an extra floor intended to create more space for boat storage, land training and social activities. During the renovation general members' meeting in 2025, the current renovation plans were agreed. With this, the plan to start renovating in 2026 was set in motion. In rowing, as at other student rowing clubs, the sport is mainly practised at two levels: competitive rowing and the more intensive race rowing. Around 70 people practise this latter form each year. They compete against all rowing clubs at the so-called national rowing competitions and, for the more experienced rowers, even at international competitions where they represent the Netherlands through the rowing federation. The basis of race rowing is formed by first-year eights in the categories of lightweight men, heavyweight men and women; for lightweight women there has been a lightweight women's quadruple sculls class since 2012. Sporting highlights from the past include the silver medals at the Olympic Games of Anneke Venema in Sydney (women's eight), Jan-Willem Gabriëls in Athens (men's eight) and Ymkje Clevering in Tokyo (women's four). At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rogier Blink (Holland 8+), Paul Drewes (LM4-) and Jan-Willem Gabriëls (Holland four) competed for Gyas. For Gyas this was a record number of rowers participating in the Games. They achieved fourth, sixth and eighth places respectively. In London there were again Gyas rowers at the start, this time Rogier Blink in the Holland Acht and Nanne Sluis in the pair. They achieved fifth and eleventh places respectively. Gyas was also active with two rowers at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, namely Joris Pijs and Sophie Souwer in Rio and Sophie Souwer and Ymkje Clevering in Tokyo. Besides successes at the Olympic Games, Gyas has also performed well at World Cups and European and World Championships. In the summer of 2007 Jan-Willem Gabriëls won two silver and one gold medal in the four at the World Cups, thereby winning the overall classification. In addition, Paul Drewes won one silver in the lightweight pair and two bronzes in the lightweight four at the World Cups. Rogier Blink won bronze with the Holland Acht in Belgrade in 2012, and in the same year Joris Pijs won gold in Lucerne in the lightweight pair, also setting a national record, and silver at the World Cup in Munich. At the 2007 World Championships, Dennis Beemsterboer became world champion in the lightweight eight. Jan-Willem Gabriëls also won bronze at both the 2006 World Championships in Eton and the 2007 World Championships in Munich. In 2023, two Gyas rowers became world champions in an Olympic event for the first time. Ymkje Clevering and Marloes Oldenburg won gold in the women's pair and women's four without coxswain respectively. In addition, there are annually Gyas rowers sent to the U23 World Championships (SB-WK). This has also regularly led to medals, such as a bronze medal for Rogier Blink in 2003, a bronze medal for Joris Pijs in 2008, a silver medal for Erik Talens in 2023 and a gold medal for Marg van der Wal in the pair in 2025. At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, two (former) members of A.G.S.R. Gyas won a gold medal. Ymkje Clevering won gold in the coxless pair together with Veronique Meester. Marloes Oldenburg won gold in the coxless four, together with Hermijntje Drenth, Tinka Offereins and Benthe Boonstra.

• 2026

  Renovation planned to start.

• 2025

  Renovation plans agreed at the general members' meeting; Marg van der Wal wins gold in the pair at the U23 World Championships.

• 2024

  Two (former) members win gold medals at the Paris Summer Olympics.

• 2023

  Ymkje Clevering and Marloes Oldenburg become world champions in Olympic events.

• 2018

  Further expansion of the boathouse considered, with an extra floor.

• 2012

  Decision to purchase a new and enlarged pontoon; lightweight women's quadruple sculls class introduced.

• 2008

  Expansion of the boathouse begins on 3 March; renovated Bootenhuysch officially opened on 12 September.

• 2007

  The 'flat plan' is definitively abandoned in May.

• 2006

  Members' meeting takes a far-reaching decision on future accommodation in March.

• 2000

  Committee begins preparing a renovation of the boathouse.

Showing the 10 most recent.

The largest student rowing club in the Netherlands, combining competitive and elite race rowing with a large and growing membership.

Product categories. Student rowing membership · Competitive rowing · Race rowing · Rowing training · Boathouse facilities

1. 1Home - A.G.S.R. Gyasgyas.nl
2. 2Algemene Groninger Studenten Roeivereniging Gyas - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3A.G.S.R. Gyas - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org