Conquering One of the World's Tallest Walls

One of the highest climbing walls in the world tests both the physical and mental strength of those who dare to reach the top. Groningen’s wonder, Excalibur, has attracted climbers for almost two decades now, leaving them suspended between heaven and earth.

Among many who dreamed about reaching Excalibur’s edge, Soňa Ondrejčáková awaited that moment ever since she started studying in Groningen. In the windy and rainy Netherlands, it was essential to consider the weather, which teared many months off the calendar. Then she finally stood under the giant wall, ready to fulfill her dream. Using a special belying, the multi-pitch technique, she reached to top for the first time. 

“I finally stood there after months of dreaming of it. The sunset was really pretty, I was in a

new city with new friends. It was a genuinely happy moment for me,” Soňa describes the feeling of standing at one of the highest places in Groningen. “There is a song I discovered shortly before, Only for a Moment by Lola Marsh, that I associate with it. Later, I went to a concert, which was another special moment I had with Excalibur.” 

Excalibur, located at Klimcentrum Bjoeks, is ranked as one of the highest climbing walls worldwide, attracting international crowds since the mid-2000s..

“Climbers come from all over the world, because they’ve seen Excalibur on the internet, but it’s actually a very small number of people that really climb it,” says Gert van der Veen, the owner of Klimcentrum Bjoeks. 

“I had climbed all my life outdoors and I missed it. That's why I built Excalibur. The idea that you are suspended between heaven and earth, that's the best part and something that you can’t recreate on the inside.” 

Aside from a wide range of route possibilities, Gert van der Veen told The Glass Room that there is also an option to spend the night on top of the 37-meter-tall wall. 

Excalibur consists of a slab side and an overhang side, with difficulty levels ranging from 4C to 9A. While climbing the slab side is mostly about mentality, the overhang side can be challenging even for an experienced climber.

“Overhang part is way more appreciated amongst the climbing community,” says Soňa. After climbing the slab side, she wanted to climb the overhang part and later succeeded, using three different routes. 

“I’m proud of myself. You cannot really train for Excalibur. It comes down to physical strength, so there is a higher chance of falling if you are not trained. Of course, there’s a rope, but the fall is still from 5 to 7 meters.”

According to MarkWide Research, the rising popularity of climbing in Europe in recent years reflects the climbing gyms demand. 

Soňa and van der Veen agree that even not experienced climbers who visit the gym and have strong forearms can reach the top of Excalibur via the slab side.

The mental state also plays an important role. “I really enjoy the height, but some people find it scary to be 35 meters above the ground. If you’re scared of heights, you are not gonna make it,” adds Soňa. 

Aside from heights, Soňa warns of spiders that crawl from the inside of the tower, especially at the edge of sunset.