Visit the Academy
Carlson Gracie Amsterdam is at Burgemeester de Vlugtlaan 125, 1063 BJ Amsterdam, in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. Classes run Monday to Friday — mornings at 08:00 and evenings from 18:00 — plus adult classes on Saturday afternoon from 16:00 and a members' Open Mat on Sunday morning (see the full schedule). If it's your first visit, plan to arrive 15–20 minutes before class: your instructor will welcome you, show you around, and get you ready to train.
Carlson Gracie Amsterdam
Burgemeester de Vlugtlaan 125
1063 BJ Amsterdam
Amsterdam Nieuw-West
Getting here
By bus — the simplest route from the centre
Take bus 21 from Amsterdam Centraal towards Geuzenveld and get off at Burg. Eliasstraat. The stop is on Burgemeester de Vlugtlaan, our own street.
One thing worth knowing: line 21 also has a stop called Burg. de Vlugtlaan, further towards the city centre. Because that's the name of our street, it's the natural one to aim for — and it's the wrong one. Get off at Burg. Eliasstraat.
By tram
Tram 7 (Azartplein ↔ Slotermeer, Lambertus Zijlplein) also stops at Burg. Eliasstraat. The same warning applies: tram 7 has a Burg. de Vlugtlaan stop too.
By metro
De Vlugtlaan station, on metro lines 50 and 51, is a short walk away.
By bicycle
Cycling is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to reach the academy. Amsterdam's network of dedicated cycle paths connects virtually every neighbourhood, so many of our students ride from home to training at no cost. If you're staying in Amsterdam, the bike is often the quickest option.
By car
Street parking is available around the academy. It's paid Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 19:00 at €1.60 per hour; outside those hours — and all day Sunday — street parking is free.
For classes, that works in your favour: coming to an evening class, you pay for at most one hour, because from 19:00 parking is free. For the 08:00 morning class, parking is free until 09:00. Saturday afternoon is the one time you will pay for the whole session — parking is charged until 19:00 on Saturdays too. And the Sunday Open Mat is free to park for entirely.
Prefer covered parking? The garage at Shopping Center Plein '40–'45 is about a five-minute walk — €2.00 per hour for the first three hours.
Finding the entrance
Hours
Classes run Monday to Friday — mornings at 08:00 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, evenings from 18:00 Monday to Thursday, and Friday evening for the Women's Only Class and No-Gi. Saturday has adult classes from 16:00. Sunday morning is a members' Open Mat, 09:00–11:00.
These are class hours — the academy is not open outside them. The live schedule is in Gymdesk and shows exactly what runs when, including which Mondays the free class is on and what Saturday's programme is that week.Sunday, stated plainly: the Sunday Open Mat is for members of the academy only. It isn't a drop-in session and it isn't a trial — it's where the team trains together on a Sunday morning. If you're visiting Amsterdam and want to train, the drop-in page has the classes that are open to you.
When you arrive
The academy opens early. Your instructor is there at least 30 minutes before every class — time set aside deliberately to welcome new students, answer questions, and make sure nobody starts their first session feeling lost.
If it's your first visit, arrive 15–20 minutes before class starts. That's enough time to be welcomed properly, get changed, borrow a gi if it's your first class, hear how the academy works, and meet the group before training begins. Once training starts, the instructor is on the mat and can't step out — so late arrivals can't join that session.
First class? You don't need a gi — the academy lends you one. Wear normal sports clothes and bring water. From your second class you train in your own gi; gis are sold at the academy.
And if you're wondering about language: all adult classes are taught in English. Students here come from all over the world, and English is what lets everyone train together — whatever language you think in, you'll understand the class.
Questions before you come? Ask — that's normal here. WhatsApp +31 6 81911917 or the contact page, and you'll get a straight answer. Messages are answered Tuesday to Friday 10:00–17:00 and Saturday 12:00–16:00; WhatsApp is always the fastest route. We'd rather you arrive already knowing what to expect.
Inside the academy
The training area is 120 square metres of mats, with large windows for natural light and airflow — plus a fan and extractor for the days Amsterdam decides to have a summer. You'll find three changing rooms and two showers, open lockers to keep your things organised, a rack for your slippers (mat etiquette the world over: slippers everywhere except the mat, bare feet on it), and a spot to charge your phone while you train.
Small things that tell you how the place is run: there's a coffee machine, a sink with hot and cold water, a wall clock and a training timer — and for first-timers, loaner gis that are washed on site after use, in the academy's own washing machine. Academy gis, t-shirts and hoodies are available to buy at the academy.
Ready to train?
Never trained? The Free Trial Class runs twice on Mondays — 08:00 and 18:00 — free, and the schedule shows which Mondays. Women can also start free in Friday's 18:00 Women's Only Class. Experienced and visiting? Drop in for €25 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening, or Wednesday or Friday morning — and at blue belt or above, the Tuesday or Thursday Advanced class too.