30 years of Fitopia: “It once started as a small-scale fitness with two dance halls” (Edegem)

This year Fitopia is blowing out thirty candles and celebrating with a big closing party on April 27. “I never expected it to be so successful, but it is fantastic that we can convey our passion every day,” say the founders.

Chris Cornelissen and Erik Defillet founded the small-scale Fitopia in the Florent Geversstraat in 1994. They combined their passions in a fitness room with two small dance halls. “Chris had been teaching aerobics classes à la Jane Fonda for a number of years and I wanted to start a business that was sports related. We chose fitness because it was growing in popularity and fitted in well with aerobics,” Erik explains.

Over the years, Fitopia grew into the eight-member sports club it is today. In addition to fitness, there is also Sauna, Yoga, Be and Kidopia, where not only dance but also circus lessons are given. “We actually try to constantly innovate so that we are up to date even after thirty years,” says Yani Janssens, who has been club coordinator for five years. Fitopia recently built an additional fitness room of 175 square meters, thus responding to the trend around strength training.

Warm community

With more than 100 employees, Fitopia tries every day to create a warm community. “We offer more than just sports, that warm home feeling is what makes us unique and distinguishes us from the rest. Moreover, everyone is welcome, the youngest can play in childcare and our oldest athletes are no less than 94 years old,” Chris continues. Today, Fitopia has about 3,100 sports members and almost 1,100 kids who visit every week. The sauna receives 60,000 visitors annually. “We never expected Fitopia to become so successful, but it is fantastic that we can convey our passion every day,” say the founders.

In honor of its thirtieth anniversary, Fitopia organized activities throughout the year. There was a Christmas market, an infusion weekend, a sleepover and a group lesson party with more than 700 participants. On Saturday, April 27, there will finally be a big party and the club invites everyone to the AED Studios in Lint. “Our demo teams that became world champions will come to perform, just like Sylver and DJ Wout. The party for 25 years was already memorable, but hopefully we can even surpass that unique atmosphere.”

Tickets and information for ’30 years of Fitopia’ via the website.