Klimzaal Rising You

Climbing with a social mission

Klimzaal Rising You is the climbing hall of Rising You, an Antwerp non-profit that uses sport, vocational training and work to help refugees and newcomers find their place, under the motto "We climb. We rise. We shine." It calls itself the most colourful climbing hall in the country. The hall is in an old train shed in SPRK at Park Spoor Noord, about 20 minutes' walk or 7 minutes by bike from Antwerpen-Centraal, and its bar stays open half an hour after the climbing stops.

The walls

The roped hall has around 90 routes on about 30 ropes, between 8 and 13 metres high, on roughly 550 m² of wall that includes a climbable roof. About ten routes are equipped for lead climbing: bring your own rope and check with reception first, as the ropes hanging on the wall are only for top-roping. The bouldering room has about 50 problems up to just over 4 metres on 150 m² of wall, and 221 m² of floor is matted. Only liquid chalk is allowed in the bouldering room and on the bottom 5 metres of the roped walls.

Getting started

You can just turn up and climb. If it's your first time, or you're unsure how to tie in or use a belay device, tell reception: a short introduction of about 15 minutes is included in the entry price. Children up to 13 must be supervised. Harnesses, GriGri belay devices and shoes are for hire. Rising You also runs KVB1 and Start to Climb courses, weekly club sessions for children, teenagers, adults and families, yoga and workout sessions, and climbing camps, and groups can ask for a quote.