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Warning against the dangers of swimming.

Be safe around water

Swimming can be very refreshing in hot weather. But if you’re a poor swimmer, water can be deadly. People drown almost every year. 

Are you thinking about heading into the water? Always keep these tips in mind:

  • Don’t get into the water if you haven’t learnt how to swim.
  • Never swim alone.
  • Always keep a close eye on your children.
  • Never swim in places where swimming is prohibited.
  • Enter the water carefully. You often won’t be able to see where the water is deep and when you will be out of your depth. And the bottom will often be uneven too. You could suddenly find yourself in deep water.
  • Take care in cold water. You could become hypothermic and get a cramp in cold water.
  • Be aware of currents. You could get dragged along by strong currents in a river or the sea.
  • Never jump or dive into water that isn’t clear.

Watch the video

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Photo of beach and sea with a button that takes you to a swimming video.

Otherwise, watch the Steffi.nl video about swimming here. The video provides all kinds of tips about things to do to make your swim as safe as possible. It also explains why swimming lessons are so important. Both videos are available in a number of languages: Dutch, English, Turkish, Somali and Arabic.  

Learning to swim

Children in the Netherlands have swimming lessons from a very early age. Children and adults living at the COA can have swimming lessons. Would you like swimming lessons? Ask a COA employee about them or go to the Infobalie.

Warning against the dangers of swimming.