Peter Aerts walks into Nieky Holzken’s new gym and instantly starts fighting

The sparring started almost immediately. Calm at first. Then the rhythm changed.

The gym in Helmond keeps growing fast

Holzken showed Aerts around the renovated facility before they entered the ring together. The Dutch kickboxing veteran recently expanded the gym and now has space for large group sessions, strength training and striking classes.

More than twenty heavy bags hang across the building. Holzken said membership numbers continue rising every week.

The atmosphere clearly impressed Aerts. He spent years fighting in packed arenas across Japan and Europe, yet looked fully comfortable back inside a local Dutch gym surrounded by young fighters watching every movement.

You can read more combat sports coverage on Gambling Club and follow recent kickboxing updates through GLORY Kickboxing.

Their movements showed years of experience

The sparring itself never turned reckless. No ego. No attempt to prove something.

But the sharpness was still there.

Aerts moved with patience while Holzken mixed combinations to the body and head. Small details stood out. Foot placement. Timing. Reactions after counters. Fighters who spent decades competing at elite level rarely lose those instincts completely.

Anyone watching could see it.

Holzken fought at the highest level for years in kickboxing and boxing, while Aerts built his name through brutal heavyweight wars during the K-1 era in Japan. Their styles came from different generations, but the understanding inside the ring looked familiar immediately.

More Dutch fight news is available through this section while Aerts’ career highlights remain visible on his official Instagram profile.

Holzken wants more than a kickboxing gym

The visit also gave Holzken a chance to speak about his plans for the future. The former world champion no longer focuses only on his own fights.

He wants to build fighters.

Holzken explained that he plans to expand the gym further with MMA, jiu-jitsu and judo classes. His long-term goal is clear. He wants talented athletes from the Netherlands to develop under one roof and eventually reach major organizations.

Including the UFC.

The conversation drifted toward modern kickboxing

At one point, both men started discussing how kickboxing has changed over the years.

Neither sounded bitter. But both admitted the sport feels different now.

The structure around promotions has shifted. Money changed parts of the business. International growth also became uneven depending on the organization.

Then they started laughing again and trading combinations.

That part never disappeared.