Chess Club Erasmus was only founded on September 5, 2005. However, we have a long history, as we continue the activities of the chess clubs NRSG Wilhelm Steinitz, SV Schiebroek/Westen Regina, and SV Hillegersberg. The very first predecessor of Erasmus (Nieuwe Rotterdamse Schaakvereniging/NRSV) was established as early as 1894!
Club Night and Venue
We play on Monday evenings at the Huis van de Wijk Arcadia on Apollostraat 211A in Rotterdam. The venue can be reached by phone at 06 – 4123 7430. The hall opens at 6:30 PM. The youth section plays from 6:45 PM to 7:45 PM, and the games for seniors begin at 8:00 PM.
The season runs from September to June. The full annual program for the upcoming season can be found under the agenda, which is updated immediately after the General Meeting (last week of August). The season typically starts on the first Monday of September.
Internal Competition
Around 50 to 60 members participate in the internal competition weekly. The competition is played according to the Swiss system, ensuring that you face players of similar strength. This also makes it possible to join later in the season, and it is not necessary to attend every week.
After a preliminary round of 17 or 18 rounds, the season concludes with three final groups based on the standings after these rounds. The top 8 players compete in a round-robin format in the A-group, players ranked 9th to 16th compete in the B-group, and the remaining players compete in the C-group following the Swiss system.
External Competition
We have three teams in the Royal Dutch Chess Federation’s competition and five teams in the Rotterdam Chess Federation’s competition. We strive to ensure that everyone who wishes to play in external matches has the opportunity, but we cannot guarantee this for everyone, as we can only participate with full teams.
Special Evenings
Approximately four to five times a year, we host a special evening. These evenings include tournaments like the Sinterklaas Tournament, Christmas Tournament, Rapid Championship, and Blitz Championship.
Open Rapid Tournament
For several years, we have been organizing an open rapid tournament (seven rounds, Swiss system) on a Saturday in the spring. Strong players, sometimes from far outside the region, participate. The tournament is also enjoyable for less strong players, as the large group ensures you will eventually face opponents of similar strength. SV Erasmus members do not have to pay an entry fee.
Watertoren Tournament
Every year at the end of the season, we organize the Watertoren Tournament. This seven-round tournament has been held for many years and is also open to non-members. Strong players from the region regularly participate, and there are significant cash prizes to be won. SV Erasmus members can participate in the Watertoren Tournament for free.
Summer Chess
In July and August, there are no regular club nights. Erasmus organizes summer evening chess every two weeks during these months. These evenings always start with a low-threshold discussion of a specific theme (such as openings, endgames, or the psychology of chess). Afterward, there is always free play.
Membership Fee
The membership fee for senior members is € 110 for a full season. Dual members (members who also belong to another club) pay € 60 per year. All information about the membership fee can be found in the membership fee regulations.
Rotterdampas Discount: € 25 off Membership
Erasmus collaborates with the Rotterdampas, offering Rotterdampas holders a € 25 discount on the annual membership fee. You will then only pay € 85 for a year’s membership at Erasmus. Dual members pay only € 35 per year, which is less than € 1 per club night!
How Does It Work?
Send an email to the treasurer at penningmeester@sv-erasmus.nl with your Rotterdampas number (found on the Rotterdampas) and your bank account number. With the 2024 Rotterdampas, you get a discount on the 2024/2025 membership fee.
Make sure to do this well before February 28, 2025. Otherwise, we won’t be able to process the discount. The € 25 will be refunded to your bank account as soon as possible. The only limitation is that each Rotterdampas holder can only use the discount once a year, and the Rotterdampas discount is only available to members aged 6 and older (this is a requirement of the Rotterdampas organization).
Cancelling Membership
When to Cancel Formally
According to Article 5, paragraph 1, part b, of our articles of association, membership can only be terminated as of the upcoming club year and must be done in writing no later than four weeks before its start. Otherwise, the membership will continue for another year. Our club year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.
Therefore, if you wish to cancel your membership for the 2025-2026 season, you must do so in writing (including email) by June 2, 2025, at the latest. The secretary’s email address is secretaris@sv-erasmus.nl.
With Care
At our founding meeting, we pledged to handle this matter with care. If someone wishes to cancel their membership because they are moving far outside Rotterdam, we generally honor that request and only charge a pro-rata portion of the membership fee.
If in doubt, feel free to contact us to confirm: we like to keep members who move away as long as possible!
Safe Sports Environment
Chess Club Erasmus values a safe, reliable, and sporting environment so that everyone can enjoy chess and the offerings of Erasmus in their own way.
Click here for Erasmus’s policy on a safe sports environment for adults and here for the policy on a safe sports environment for youth.
Articles of Association and Internal Regulations
The articles of association and internal regulations of Erasmus can also be found here.
Click here for the constitution of SV Erasmus and here for the internal house rules of SV Erasmus.
Privacy Statement
Chess Club Erasmus handles the privacy of its members, tournament participants, and other stakeholders with care, in line with the General Data Protection Regulation. Click here for the current privacy statement of Chess Club Erasmus.
