Brrr… tens of thousands take part in New Year swims all over the Netherlands

New Year swimmers at Scheveningen. Photo Najib Nafid via HH
New Year swimmers at Scheveningen. Photo Najib Nafid via HH

Tens of thousands of people in the Netherlands took part in the traditional New Year swim at over 100 beaches, rivers and lakes around the country despite the chilly weather.

The biggest, at the seaside resort of Scheveningen, attracted some 10,000 swimmers even though the wind and rain made it feel as if the temperature was below freezing point.

The sea itself was around seven degrees and local broadcaster Omroep West said two people developed hypothermia.

In Limburg, a New Year swim in Belfeld was cancelled because the water was frozen and the safety of participants could not be guaranteed, broadcaster 1Limburg said.

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