Third-year students of Johan Cruyff Academy Groningen led a memorable 10th anniversary event at the new Cruyff Education Hub Heerenveen, uniting past and current students, families, and sports professionals
On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Johan Cruyff Academy Groningen celebrated its 10th anniversary at the new Cruyff Education Hub in Heerenveen. Third-year students took the lead in organizing the event as part of their minor project, guided by their teachers Kees Rozema and Bert Volders.
The program included presentations by former football players Kik Pierie, who now helps young footballers build a stable financial foundation, and Joost van Aken, owner of PlayPDL (padel). In addition, the charity initiative Cycling4Life was held, organized by first-year students to raise funds for KiKa, creating a dynamic and engaging evening for all attendees.
The meeting was organized by third-year students from Johan Cruyff Academy Groningen as part of their academic minor project.
Bringing Together the Cruyff Education Community
The celebration also served as a reunion for the first cohort of students, bringing together past and current students, prospective students, parents, and other stakeholders in an informal setting where sport, education, and community came together.
Simone Kempees, a teacher at Johan Cruyff Academy, commented: “It is special to host an event at the new Cruyff Education Hub in Heerenveen and introduce the location to a wider audience. The hub already hosts weekly classes, supporting elite student-athletes in this region”.
“Today’s event showed that it is an ideal setting where sport and education come together”.
Kees Rozema, Team Manager of Johan Cruyff Academy, added: “Cruyff Education forms the heart of education for elite athletes and also supports lifelong learning”.
“The Heerenveen Hub is unique, allowing athletes and sports professionals at any stage of their career to meet and develop further”.
First-year students organized the Cycling4Life charity initiative during the event, with the aim of raising funds for the KIKA Foundation.
The Cruyff Education Hub in Heerenveen
The Cruyff Education Hub, located in Cunabula next to the Thialf stadium, provides athletes, educational institutions, and sport professionals with a space to study, teach, and build networks. It offers flexible, tailor-made learning and training programs, supports lifelong learning, hosts events and symposia, and expands both the physical and digital reach of Cruyff Education. The Hub aims to ensure that athletes and sport professionals can benefit from high-quality education and coaching, regardless of location.
The 10th anniversary celebration not only highlighted a decade of achievements at Johan Cruyff Academy Groningen but also showcased the potential of the Cruyff Education Hub as a vibrant center for education, sport, and professional development in the region.
