Starting off the new year fresh with a bracing swim is a tradition for thousands of Dutch people, and there are more than 50 events planned across the north to dive into 2019.
New Year’s Day swims – more accurately described as a quick dash into the water and right back out – are better known as polar bear plunges in North America, and the Netherlands has an extremely high density of the frigid dives. The idea behind the swims is that the invigorating shock of the cold water is a symbolic cleansing for the year to come, and while many people swear by the health benefits of the shiver-inducing swim, doctors are not exactly convinced.
Decked out in swimsuits and neon orange Unox toboggans, scores of Dutch folks take to the sea for the biggest dive on New Year’s Day in The Hague. This annual tradition, which began back in 1965 and has been sponsored by Unox since 1998, attracts 10,000 people who run into the icy waters and are greeted by a warm bowl of pea soup with smoked sausage (from Unox, naturally) once they are back on dry land.
Unox also organizes around 60 other dives across the Netherlands, including the Hoornseplas and Zuidbroek in the province of Groningen, seven sites in Drenthe and no fewer than 20 in Friesland. But there are plenty of non-Unox dives set to take place on 1 January in Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland, so check out our list below to see where brave souls in your neck of the woods can start 2019 with a splash. All of these dates, times and locations can be found at nieuwjaarsduik.info, so be sure to double check there before donning your swim wear and heading for the water.
Friesland:
The islands:
Ameland: 11 a.m. at Oranjeweg 61
Schiermonnikoog: 2 p.m. at Badweg 145
Midsland aan Zee on Terschelling: 1 p.m. at Midsland aan Zee 457
Vlieland: 1 p.m. at Duinkersoord 29
Mainland:
Akkrum: 3 p.m. on 7 January at Ulbe Twijnstrawei 33
Aldtsjerk: 3 p.m. at Van Sminiaweg 107
Arum: 1 p.m. at Van Camminghaweg 10
Baard: 2 p.m. at Dekemawei 9
Bitgummole: 1 p.m. at Ingelumerdyk 20
Burum: 12 p.m. at De Meerpaal 13
De Westereen: 2 p.m. at Swemmerloane 7
Dokkum: 4:30 p.m. at Van Kleffenstraat 20
Drachten: 3 p.m. at Reidingweg 2
Feanwaldsterwal: 2:30 p.m. at De Wal 13
Grou: 1:30 p.m at Prinses Wilhelminastraat 12
Harlingen: 3 p.m. at Westerzeedijk 2
Heerenveen: 1 p.m. at De Dreef
Hindeloopen: 2 p.m. at Dijkweg
Joure: 12 p.m. at Twaresom
Jubbega: 1 p.m. at
Kollumerzwaag: 12 p.m. at
Langelille: 11 a.m. at
Leeuwarden: 2 p.m. at Noordersingel 102
Leeuwarden: 2 p.m. at De Groene Ster (for nudists only!)
Lemmer: 1 p.m. at Plattedijk 1
Mildam: 12 p.m. at Bruggelaantje 10
Oudega: 4 p.m. at Hagenadyk 5
Rottevalle: 2 p.m. at Bildreed 3
Rottum: 12 p.m. at Oude Postweg 34
Slappeterp: 2 p.m. at Kleasterdyk 12A
Steggerda: 2 p.m. at Pepergaweg 128
Surhuisterveen: 1 p.m. at Badlaan 2
Terherne: 1 p.m. at Jongebuorren 33
Witmarsum: 2 p.m. at Van Aylvaweg 62
Wolvega: 2 p.m. at Atalanta
Drenthe:
Assen: 2 p.m. at Baggelhuizen
Beilen: 1 p.m. at Eursing 32
Coevorden: 1:30 p.m. at Joh. Plasweg
De Wijk: 2 p.m. at Kerkbrug
Drouwenerveen: 2 p.m. at Zuideind 25
Erm: 2 p.m. on 5 January at Steenbakkersweg
Havelte: 3 p.m. at Dorpsstraat 21
Koekangerveld: 12 p.m. at Ruinerweg 23
Roden Ronostrand: 2 p.m. at Amerika 16
Zeijen: 2:30 p.m. at Hoofdstraat 40
Groningen:
Appingedam: 2 p.m. at Wijkstraat 38
Garnwerd: 1 p.m. at Hunzeweg 40
Groningen: 12 p.m. at Parkallee 98
Groningen: 3 p.m. at Achterom (Hoornseplas)
Havelte: 3 p.m. at Dorpsstraat 21
Lauwersoog: 1 p.m. at Strandweg 1
Meerstad: 12 p.m. at Waterviolier 2
Nieuwe Pekela: 2 p.m. at Merellaan 8
Oosterwijtwerd: 2 p.m. at Dorpsstraat 1
Ter Apel: 12 p.m. at Heembadweg 17
Wagenborgen: 3 p.m. at Meerweg 6
Zuidbroek: 2 p.m. at Botjesweg 1
Photo source: Ruud Onos/Flickr
