Nieuwjaarsduik Zandvoort

Nieuwjaarsduik Zandvoort is an annual New Year’s Day sea-swimming event in Zandvoort, described by its organisers as the Netherlands’ oldest and most enjoyable New Year’s dive. The event brings participants together to welcome the new year with a plunge into the North Sea. Its next edition is planned for 2027, with further details to be announced.

Safety is an important part of the event. The Zandvoort Lifeguard Brigade is present during the swim, and the Red Cross also provides support. Participants can consult safety tips from the lifeguards, and anyone who notices a problem or needs to report something on the day is asked to contact the lifeguards or event staff, identifiable by their yellow jackets.

The tradition began in 1959, when Zandvoort swimming trainer Ok van Batenburg proposed that his club enter the sea on January 1. The event is organised by Stichting Nieuwjaarsduik Zandvoort and made possible with help from its partners, whom the foundation acknowledges for their contributions.