Vijf Meihal
{{Short description|Dutch arena}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Vijf Meihal
| nickname = De Schuur (The Barn)
| logo_image =
| logo_caption =
| image = Panorama Vijf Meihal.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Panorama of the Vijf Meihal
| fullname = Vijf Meihal
| former names =
| location = Leiden, Netherlands
| coordinates = {{coord|52|08|57.1|N|4|28|35.0|E|type:landmark_region:NL-GR|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = 14 February 1968
| built = 1968
| opened = 24 September 1968
| renovated =
| expanded = 2010
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Municipality
| operator = Municipality of Leiden
| surface =
| scoreboard =
| cost = 1.5 million Dutch guilder
| architect =
| project_manager =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| main_contractors =
| capacity = 2,000 (basketball)
| suites =
| record_attendance =
| dimensions =
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| tenants = ZZ Leiden (2006–2023)
Dutch national basketball team (2013–2016)
| embedded =
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}}
The Vijf Meihal ({{langx|en|5 May Hall}}) is a now-closed sports complex located in the Dutch city of Leiden.{{cite web|title=Vijf Meihal|website=sportbedrijfleiden.nl|quote=Deze eerste sporthal van Leiden werd in 1968 in gebruik genomen.|url=http://www.sportbedrijfleiden.nl/accommodaties/sporthallen_en_zalen/vijf_meihal/|access-date=January 27, 2014|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217215700/http://www.sportbedrijfleiden.nl/accommodaties/sporthallen_en_zalen/vijf_meihal/|archive-date=February 17, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} It was used as a sports arena since 1968, as the former home base of professional basketball club ZZ Leiden, who used it up until 2024 when they moved to the Sportcomplex 1574.
History
Construction began on 14 February 1968 and was opened on 24 September 1968. The municipality of Leiden built the hall as a temporary venue, as it expected to build another larger sports center soon. The design was inspired by other Swedish sports halls and was considered cheap, as costs were 1.5 million Dutch guilder.{{Cite web |title=De Vijf Meihal wordt uitgezwaaid door de Nederlandse basketbalgemeenschap. |url=https://www.basketball.nl/basketball/nieuws/actueel/dag-vijf-meihal-toch-wel-legendarische-hal-gaat-nu-echt-dicht/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Basketball.nl |language=nl}}
The hall was used for B.S. Leiden's basketball team and was often crowded by 2,500–3,000 supporters, which overflowed the hall's capacity. In 1986, the basketball club dissolved its activities, due to the lack of a major sponsor as well as the limited seating capacity of the Vijf Meihal.
For approximately 20 years, the hall was barely used, until the basketball club was re-founded as ZZ Leiden in 2006.
Until 2010, the Vijf Meihal had a capacity of 700 people. This was expanded to 2,000 people in 2010. The expansion cost somewhere around 500,000 euros and did allow Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden to play in European competitions.{{cite news|title= 500,000 euros for expansion Vijf Meihal|publisher= Sleutelstad | date= April 20, 2010|url= http://www.sleutelstad.nl/nieuws/archief/2010/04/vijf-ton-voor-uitbreiding-vijf-meihal|access-date= January 27, 2014|language=nl}}
The Dutch national basketball team played a EuroBasket qualification match in the Vijf Meihal on 16 August 2013. The Netherlands played against Portugal and won the match, 71–53.{{cite news|title= Easy win for Netherlands against Portugal in Leiden|publisher= Sport 1 | date= August 16, 2013|url= http://www.sport1.nl/nieuws/56324-nederland-in-leiden-simpel-langs-portugal.html|access-date= January 27, 2014|language=nl}} Later the Vijf Meihal became the main arena of the national team.
The complex was mockingly nicknamed De Schuur (English: The Barn) by ZZ Leiden fans.
The municipality of Leiden constructed a new sports hall, the Sportcomplex 1574, which Leiden started using from the 2023–24 season. On 30 September 2024, the hall was closed.