The Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning will host 21 preliminary group and main round games of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship from 14 to 25 January in Denmark, one of the three co-host countries of the event, which ends in Oslo, Norway on 2 February.

And all fans who come to Herning can not only make a positive difference to the environment, but view some handball history too.

Every drink counts

In December 2023, the Boxen hosted IHF Women’s World Championship games from the preliminary round right through to the final and thanks to people carefully recycling their drinks bottles, money was raised for an important Danish charity.

This was due to a collaboration between MCH Messecenter Herning (the company which operates the Jyske Bank Boxen), the Danish Handball Federation (DHF, Dansk Håndbold) and the non-profit company which manages drinks bottle deposits (Dansk Retursystem).

Around DKK 40,000 (CHF 5,000) was raised – from fans and players returning used bottles for their deposit from the stands and locker rooms – for the charity ‘Julemærkehjemmene’ (Christmas Stamp Homes) which, primarily, provides temporary housing for children from 7 to 14 years old. https://www.julemaerket.dk/733/julemaerkefonden 

Now, in January 2025, the three partners have come together to expand and extend the collaboration to another IHF World Championship.

Alongside the venue itself, including the fan areas and locker rooms, three hotels – Hotel Scandic Regina, Hotel Eyde and Radisson Blu Hotel Papirfabrikken – who will be hosting players, delegates and staff during the event, plus Todbjerg buses – who will transport the teams between their hotel, training halls and the arena – have added their weight to the collaboration.

“We are incredibly happy with the great support and broad cooperation that underpins the pledge collection,” said Søren Ravn Jensen, Director, Julemærkefonden. 

“It is fantastic that the crowd, players, employees and volunteers pledge together and actively take part in helping vulnerable children to improve their well-being and into good communities.”

Dansk Retursystem will provide additional deposit bags, logistics and up to 50 deposit boxes for the event.

Look back on 90 years at the ‘world’s largest handball museum’

Not only can fans watch the world’s best male handball players on show in Herning during the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, but they can also learn about the history of handball with a Danish twist.

The Danish Handball Federation, in collaboration with Museum Midtjylland and MCH A/S have launched a 500 square-metre ‘Handball Museum’ to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the federation, which was formed in 1935.

The museum will focus on the development of the sport and its cultural significance as an ‘indispensable part of Danish sports life’, according to the DHF website. 

There will be a special focus on the significant moments and people who have helped shape the sport from field handball to the indoor 7-a-side and beach versions we see today, with portraits of the lives and careers of handball figures. This can all be witnessed through objects, pictures and films.

“We are proud to be able to present Denmark's largest sports museum in the fan zone during the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship. The medals and other objects on display each tell a story about highlights in Danish sports history that have brought us together as a nation,” said DHF CEO, Heino Knudsen.

“Community is crucial for us both what we create every day around the halls and what occurs during the major championships. That is why we are pleased to let the spectators at the IHF Men’s World Championship dive into nostalgia and be reminded of the many experiences that handball has given us all over the years.”

The Handball Museum can be visited by all guests with a ticket to one of Denmark's IHF Men’s World Championship matches in the Jyske Bank Boxen from January 14 to 25. The fan zone is open before and between the matches.

Photo credit: Danish Handball Federation