Zutphense Roei- en Zeilvereniging Isala (ZRZV Isala)
Zutphense Roei- en Zeilvereniging Isala is the rowing and sailing club of Zutphen on the River IJssel, based at the boathouse in the Marshaven harbour. The club is more than 105 years old, has around 220 members and runs a modern fleet of 38 rowing boats plus the coaching launch Moeder Gans. Since 2021 a new floating boathouse with canteen, changing rooms, ergometer room, workshop and jetty has been available. The programme covers introductory courses, youth training, touring and racing as well as marathon rowing on the harbour, Twente Canal and IJssel. Historically members also sailed in sail wherries; today the focus is on rowing with structured training and club authorisations.
History
Zutphense Roei en Zeil Vereniging Isala was founded on 1 July 1912. In the early years, sailing in then-popular sail wherries took place alongside rowing; today the club rows exclusively. Isala is based in Zutphen’s Marshaven on the IJssel and is one of the region’s long-standing watersports clubs. For many decades a wooden boathouse served as the club home until rising maintenance costs after about fifty years led to its replacement. Since 2021 Isala has used a new floating boathouse designed by architect and member Herman Bessels. Funding came from reserves, subsidies, favourable mortgage guarantees and bonds purchased by members, with further savings through self-help and smart purchasing. The building sits on a concrete caisson with steel superstructure and insulated cladding. Upstairs are the canteen overlooking harbour and IJssel, changing rooms with showers, toilets, ergometer room and workshop; downstairs are boat racks and access to the pontoon. The old wooden pontoon at the rear was replaced by a plastic one and remains as a reserve. The fleet comprises 38 boats including C-boats, skiffs, pairs, fours, coastal boats and a wherry, plus the motor coaching boat Moeder Gans. With over 105 years of history and around 220 members, Isala describes itself as old yet very much alive and continues to develop its facilities at Noorderhaven.
Information
Facilities
New floating boathouse (since 2021) with canteen and IJssel views, changing rooms with showers, toilets, ergometer room, workshop, boat racks, jetty/pontoon, own 11-metre boat trailer and coaching launch Moeder Gans; fleet of 38 rowing boats.
Activities
Introductory courses, youth rowing, touring, racing, marathon rowing, clinics (including safe rowing on flowing water), corporate rowing clinics, and internal training with harbour, canal and IJssel qualifications.
Youth section
Active youth section (about 20 juniors aged 10–18) with free introduction (3 sessions), Sunday training 11:00–13:00 and optional winter ergometer training on Tuesdays.
Guest berths
Yes, for guest rowers with guidance