Sport
Münster is a sporty city. The city's sports clubs offer a broad range of sporting disciplines. Regional "specialities" include cycling, riding, golf and ballooning. There is also a wide selection of activities tailored to the needs of disabled people.
Popular sport
The Municipal Sports Offíce and the Municipal Sports Association, which coordinates all the sports clubs in Münster, are pleased to provide advice and information to those looking for sports clubs, sporting activities, sports stadiums, public pools and sports events.
- Information: Sportamt (Sports Office)
ph. 02 51/ 4 92-52 01
sportamt(at)stadt-muenster.de - www.stadt-muenster.de/sportamt/startseite.html
- The "Stadtsportbund" (Municipal Sports Association) provides information about clubs and associations.
ph. 02 51 / 3 03 34
info(at)stadtsportbund-ms.de - www.stadtsportbund-ms.de
- Those looking for a certain discipline or a club in their immediate environment, should have a look at:
www.sportvereine-ms.de - For an overview of indoor and outdoor swimming pools in Münster, please go to:
www.stadt-muenster.de/sportamt/baeder.html
Competitive sport and sporting events
Those who prefer to be spectators should investigate the following options:
- Football: The local number one is the SC Preußen Münster, runner-up in the German Championships in 1951 and founding member of the German Football League in 1963. The team is currently playing in the 3rd national league. Home games at the stadium on the Hammer Straße are attended by an average of 4,700 fans.
www.scpreussen-muenster.de - Volleyball: The volleyball ladies from USC Münster enjoy a high position in Federal league rankings. To date, they have notched up nine German Championship titles, eleven German Cup victories and four European Cup victories. The second ladies' team is also high up in the second Federal league. Matches are played at the Berg Fidel "Volleydrom", which seats up to 4,500 spectators.
www.usc-muenster.de - Riding: Equestrian enthusiasts can see their favourite stars in action at two major events held in Münster. The indoor K+K cup, organised by the Münster Riding Association, is held in the Halle Münsterland over a five-day period each January. The international jumping and dressage elite meets each August for the "Turnier der Sieger" (Tournament of Champions) with the majestic backdrop of Münster's Palace.
www.kkcup.de - www.turnierdersieger.de
- Running: The motto of the annual Münster marathon is "Laufen aus Leidenschaft" ("Running for Passion"). Around 6,000 professionals and amateurs attempt the 42 kilometre long route, cheered on by enthusiastic spectators. Those who prefer not to run the entire route can form a team with like-minded runners and enter the relay marathon.
Information and registration: Münster Marathon e.V.
ph. 02 51 / 9 27 72 88
info(at)volksbank-muenster-marathon.de - www.volksbank-muenster-marathon.de/marathon/?rubric=englisch
- Cycling: The cycling elite meets in Münster every year on 3rd October in order to compete in the "Münsterland-Giro" cycle race, a 200 kilometre route through the region. The highlight is the home stretch right in front of Münster’s Palace. Professionals and ambitious amateur cyclists have a choice of three open races, with distances between 60 and 130 kilometres.
Information and registration:
www.sparkassen-muensterland-giro.de/welcome.html
Speciality sport I: Cycling
The Münsterland's flat landscape makes it the ultimate cycling region. "Pättkes", or asphalted rural paths, quiet streets and cycle paths are perfect for extensive tours. All interests and fitness levels are well catered for.
- Münster Marketing publishes a leaflet containing useful tips on cycle tours in and around Münster: www.muenster.de/stadt/tourismus/pdf/Flyer_Radtouren.pdf
- The ADFC (German Cyclists' Federation), Dortmunder Straße 19, publishes its tour programme every spring.
ph. 02 51 / 39 39 99
info(at)adfc-ms.de - www.adfc-ms.de
- "Radsportverein Münster von 1895" (Münster Cycling Association from 1895): The oldest cycling association, which is also one of the largest in North Rhine-Westphalia. The association includes the five divisions racing, cycle tourism, mountain-biking/ cross, unicycles and cycle ball.
kontakt(at)rsv-muenster.de - www.rsv-muenster.de
- Radsportfreunde Münster (Friends of Cycling in Münster): Activities ranging from cycle tourism to racing
ph. 02 51 / 86 22 21
rsf(at)muenster.org - www.radsportfreunde-muenster.de
- Tri Finish Münster: Founded in 1985 as the city's first triathlon association, Tri Finish offers racing and cycle tourism tours
ph. 02 51 / 39 48 98 02
kontakt(at)trifinish.de - www.trifinish.eu
- In addition, several other sports clubs also have cycling tour and racing divisions.
www.sportvereine-ms.de
Speciality sport II: Aquatic sports
Sailing, rowing, canoeing, swimming and triathlon are big in Münster - thanks to several lakes and streams and the Dortmund-Ems-Canal.
The 2.000 metre long regatta course on the Aasee (Lake Aa) is a focal point of attraction when the yearly rowing regatta is on in April or when the sailing clubs invite. Beginners and experts are welcome at the sailing schools at Lake Aa right in the city centre as well as in Hiltrup. The Münster Triathlon attracts several thousand people every year in June and has three starter levels on offer for recreational and top athletes. And whoever prefers a relaxing paddle tour: There are enough opportunities to rent canoes and pedalos and paddle along the romantic Werse or the Ems.
These clubs offer water sport, courses and facilities:
- Segel-Club Münster e.V., Annette-Allee 7
ph. 02 51 / 7 63 51 13
info(at)segel-club-muenster.de - www.segel-club-muenster.de/
- Segelclub Hansa Münster, Mecklenbecker Strasse 112
02 51 / 79 82 60
info(at)segelclub-hansa.de - www.segelclub-hansa.de
- Hiltruper-Segel-Club e. V., Zum Hiltruper See 171b
ph. 0 25 01 / 1 64 10
hisc(at)hiltruper-segelclub.de - www.hiltruper-segelclub.de
- Segelschule Overschmidt (Sailing School and boat rental)
Annette-Allee 1
ph. 02 51 / 8 49 30 00
info(at)overschmidt.de - www.overschmidt.de
- Münsteraner Regatta Verein
ph. 02 51 / 23 32 60
info(at)m-r-v.de - www.muenster.de/~regatta
- Paddel Sport Münster von 1923 e.V. (canoe polo), Wersetimpen 54
info(at)paddelsport-muenster.de - www.paddelsport-muenster.de
- Wasser + Freizeit Münster e.V. (triathlon)
ph. 0251 / 6 03 44
info(at)wasser-freizeit.de - www.wasser-freizeit.de
- Tri Finish Münster e.V. (triathlon)
ph. 02 51 / 39 48 98 02
kontakt(at)trifinish.de - www.trifinish.eu
Canoe rentals for recreational purpose:
- Canu Camp, Homannstr. 64 in Angelmodde
ph. 0 25 35 / 95 0 52
info(at)canucamp.de - www.canucamp.de
- Kanuverleih Pleistermühle, Pleistermühlenweg 196
ph. 0 25 71 / 9 82 73
rucksack(at)rucksack-reisen.de - www.kanuverleih-pleistermuehle.de
Speciality sport III: Ballooning
The "Montgolfiade" balloon festival, which is held annually at the end of August, is one of the highlights on Münster's event calendar. The sight of 60 balloons rising up from the banks of Lake Aa is most impressive.
Ballooning can also be practised as a competitive sport at Münster's ballooning associations. During the competitions, the distance and length of a balloon ride and the target journey are calculated. However, the associations also welcome those who are just "along for the ride".
- Freiballonsport-Verein Münster und Münsterland (Münster and Münsterland Free Ballooning Sports Association)
ph. 0 25 48 / 22 60 19
info(at)fsv-muensterland.de - www.fsv-muensterland.de
- Mongolfieren Club Gremmendorf (Gremmendorf Hot-Air Ballooning Club)
ph. 02 51 / 62 78 79
info(at)montgolfieren-club.de - www.montgolfieren-club.de
- Ballonteam Luftschloss
ph. 02 51 /2 30 20 77
lm(at)ballonteam-luftschloss.de - www.ballonteam-luftschloss.de
Some aeronautic companies also offer hot-air balloon rides:
- Ballooncharter
ph. 02 51 / 8 28 85
info(at)ballooncharter.de - www.ballooncharter.de
- Ballonteam Münster
ph. 01 71 / 410 66 47
ballonteam-muenster(at)t-online.de - www.ballonteammuenster.de
Speciality sport IV: Golf
Golf has become quite fancy in the last couple of years - and a lot more common and accessible. The Münster-Tinnen golf club is based in Amelsbüren, while the more traditional Münster-Wilkinghege golf club’s 18-hole green is located on the Steinfurter Straße, near the Münster-Nord (Münster North) motorway exit. Hiltrup offers nine holes and explicitly invites guests and new members. Patrick's Pitch & Putt is the only public golf course, open daily from 9 am to dawn.
- Golfclub Münster-Tinnen (Münster-Tinnen golf club)
ph. 0 25 36 / 3 30 10 11
info(at)gc-tinnen.de - www.golfclub-tinnen.de
- Golfclub Münster-Wilkinghege (Münster-Wilkinghege golf club)
ph. 02 51 / 21 40 90
kontakt(at)golfclub-wilkinghege.de - www.golfclub-wilkinghege.de
- Golfen in Hiltrup - the open golf course (welcomes guests)
ph. 0 25 01 /5 94 87 19
golfen-in-hiltrup(at)gmx.de - www.golfen-in-hiltrup.de
- Patrick's Pitch & Putt (public golf course)
ph. 02 51 / 38 12 57
golf(at)pitchundputt.de - www.pitchundputt.de
- The Münsterland landscape offers a great variety of attractive golf courses. The Münsterland tourism association lists a selection:
www.muensterland-tourismus.de/4430/golf-muensterland
Speciality sport V: Speckbrett
"Speckbrett" is a curiosity, really, and almost exclusively to be found in Münster. Invented in 1929 as an unexpensive and fun alternative to tennis, it is still being performed with a solid wooden racket (originally a chopping board, "Brett"). Speckbrett courts can be found in three clubs and on over 40 public sports grounds.