Bouldering is a lot of fun, but we enjoy the variety with route climbing even more. This time we are in Nijmegen and are visiting Climbing gym Stadsmuur. This climbing gym has been around for many years, but was taken over in 2023 and has continued under a new name since then.
Location and gym
Klimhal Stadsmuur is just a 10-minute walk from Nijmegen Dukenburg station. Coming by car? You can park right in front of the gym, although unfortunately it’s paid parking. There is a solution for free parking, but you’ll have to walk a bit further.
Upon entering, we register ourselves, as it’s our first time climbing routes here. The gym consists of two sections. The upper floor is 12 meters high and has no less than 20 auto-belays. I’ll come back to that later. The lower floor is impressive: 21 meters high, even featuring a small roof section in the middle. On a large part of the walls, lead climbing is also possible.
Between the two floors are the changing rooms and a training area. This training area is equipped with a spray wall, a Tension Board, and various tools for warm-ups and strength training. You can sense a close-knit community here: there are messages on the bulletin board for finding climbing partners.
Our climbing experience
We start downstairs with easy routes to warm up. Here, you have to tie in yourself using a figure-eight knot. We choose routes on the straight wall that don’t go all the way to the top yet. As we warm up, we pick more challenging and longer routes.
You can tell that the gym has been around for a while by the holds. There are holds you hardly come across anymore these days. New holds have definitely been added, but they are still outnumbered by the vast collection. The walls themselves are richly equipped with large and small modules, creating a beautiful and interesting 3D effect.
Under each route, there is a clear sign with the difficulty level, route name, and setting date. Some routes feel slippery, which isn’t surprising: some are over a year old. While it’s understandable that routes are refreshed less often than in a bouldering gym, I personally find a year quite long.
After the straight walls, I shift my focus to a more overhanging wall. Here, I really start to feel how long 21 meters of climbing can be. The pump kicks in, and I don’t succeed on every route. Back at the straight wall, I try a 7C and, to my own surprise, I top it in one go!
Auto-belays
An auto-belay is a device that secures you without a climbing partner. Before I’m allowed to use it, I first watch an instructional video. It’s good that extra attention is given to this. The principle is simple: you clip yourself in and start climbing. Once you reach the top, or if you fall, the device lowers you down in a controlled manner.
Important to know: if you fall, you can’t continue climbing; you are immediately lowered down. While climbing, you feel slight support from the system. It doesn’t feel like you’re being pulled upward, but the difference compared to regular climbing is noticeable. I’ve seen auto-belays before, but never so many side by side and with routes up to 7B. Smart, especially for children's parties or if you want to climb without a partner.
Final thoughts
After more than two hours of climbing, our forearms are completely pumped and our energy is gone. Although the holds aren’t as modern as those in the newest climbing gyms, Klimhal Stadsmuur has an incredible amount to offer. If you want to rack up meters, challenge yourself, and enjoy the height, this climbing gym is definitely worth a visit.
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