Traditionally, many people jump into the (icy cold) water around New Year’s Day to ring in the new year. The most famous place where hundreds of people brave the ice-cold water is in the North Sea near Scheveningen, but it is also done in several places. There people jump into ponds, puddles or ditches. When did this actually originate and is it typically Dutch? What preparations can you make to safely participate in this icy ,challenge,?
- New Year’s dive
- Origin of tradition
- Previously in Canada
- Other names
- Unox sponsor
- Participation costs
- New Year’s diving in the Netherlands in 2020
- Participant numbers in the Netherlands
- New Year’s diving abroad
- Special (New Year’s) diving abroad
- Preparation
- On the day itself
- Who should not participate?
- Jigsaw puzzle
Source: ©ottergraafjes
New Year’s dive
While many of us are still enjoying the (last) oliebollen, on New Year’s Day at 12 noon, many people jump into the ice-cold North Sea near Scheveningen. They participate in the New Year’s dive. But a New Year’s dive is not only held in Scheveningen. This happens in many more places in the Netherlands and even abroad. The times of the other New Year’s dives may be different from the times in Scheveningen. In 2007, the New Year’s dive in Scheveningen was cancelled. This had to do with bad weather.
Origin of tradition
The tradition of braving the cold water every year on New Year’s Day originated in the Netherlands in 1960. That was when they jumped into the cold water for the first time in Zandvoort. Ok van Batenburg dived into the water of the North Sea together with members of the swimming club Njord 59 from Haarlem. Five years later, in 1965, the very first New Year’s dive was held in Scheveningen and from that moment on, Scheveningen has been the place where the official New Year’s dive is held every year. The initiator in Scheveningen was marathon swimmer Jan van Scheijndel. He and 6 other participants dived into the cold North Sea that year. In 1973, approximately 50 people participated, consisting of men, women and children. The water was 6 degrees at the time.
Previously in Canada
The New Year’s Dive phenomenon has actually existed since 1920, when the first New Year’s Dive was organized in Canada. By the way, it’s called Polar Bear Plunge there. During New Year’s Day, many people jump into the water at many different locations.
Other names
In the Netherlands it is called a New Year’s dive, while in German it is called a Neujahrsbaden or Weihnachtsbaden. In America, just like in Canada, they call it Polar Bear Plunge.
Source: ©ottergraafjes
Unox sponsor
Unox, known for pea soup and sausage, has been a sponsor of all New Year’s dives in the Netherlands since 1998. Participants in the New Year’s dive receive an orange Unox hat that provides them with warmth during the dive (unless you go underwater with your head). After the dive, participants receive a free cup of pea soup.
Participation costs
At some locations you can participate in the New Year’s dive for free, while at other places you have to pay a small contribution.
New Year’s diving in the Netherlands in 2020
In 2020, a New Year’s dive will be held in various places throughout the Netherlands, in all 12 provinces. This is also the case on a number of Wadden Islands, such as Texel, Vlieland and Ameland.
Furthermore, a New Year’s dive will be held in:
- Leeuwarden
- Drachten
- Groningen
- shafts
- Almere
- Den Bosch
- Eijsden
- Rotterdam
- Domburg
- Beverwijk
- Oldenzaal
Participant numbers in the Netherlands
Since the beginning, the number of participants in a New Year’s dive has increased every year. In Scheveningen in 2000, no fewer than 10,000 people took part in the ,millennium dive,. That number is also the maximum number of participants for each New Year’s dive in Scheveningen.
- in 2009 there were approximately 6,500 participants
- in 2010, about 8,600 people jumped into the cold water
- In 2011, the maximum number of participants of 10,000 people was reached again, while 27,000 people took part throughout the Netherlands.
- in 2012, 36,000 participants took part across the Netherlands – at 89 locations
- In 2014, 46,000 people participated throughout the Netherlands, spread over 125 locations.
- in 2016, the number of participants throughout the Netherlands increased to 51,000 people spread over 136 locations
New Year’s diving abroad
When the New Year’s Day dive phenomenon emerged in Canada in 1920, only 10 participants took part. In the millennium year (2000), 2,128 participants took part.
Furthermore, (New Year’s) dives are held abroad in, among others:
- America
- Suriname
- Aruba
- Curacao
- United Arab Emirates
- Australia
- Antarctica
- China
- South Korea
- France
- Germany
- Denmark
- Norway
Special (New Year’s) diving abroad
- A Polar Bear Plunge is organized in America to raise money for a good cause.
- In the state of Illinois they also raise money for charity, but there is no dive on New Year’s Day. These dives take place between February and March.
- In the United Kingdom, participants jump into the water on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
- In Scotland, people jump into the water during ,Loony Dook, on New Year’s Day.
- In Antarctica, there is massive diving in the water at the end of December – during their midsummer.
- In New Zealand people also jump into the water en masse, but this is not done around New Year’s Day, but on the weekend in June closest to the shortest day.
Preparation
Would you like to participate in a New Year’s dive? Then it is recommended not to do this without preparation. It is not advisable to jump into the water without getting used to the cold. What can you do to prepare?
- Start with a cold shower a few weeks in advance or rinse with cold water after showering
- When it is cold, don’t stay inside, but go outside. This way you slowly get used to the cold
On the day itself
On the day itself you can observe the following things:
- do not dive if you have consumed alcohol
- If necessary, apply Vaseline to make you feel the cold less
- wear a hat and possibly water shoes to protect your feet
- don’t stay in the cold water for too long, but dry off quickly
- As soon as you get out of the water, put on slippers or something similar
Who should not participate?
According to the Rescue Brigade, a dip in the cold water is not wise for elderly people over 70 years old and for children under 12 years old. If you do not feel fit, it is better not to participate in the dive.
Jigsaw puzzle
A jigsaw puzzle has even been made of the New Year’s dive. That puzzle consists of 2,000 pieces. The designer of the puzzle is Jan van Haasteren. He is a cartoonist with a humorous touch. He has made different types of drawings, which in turn have been turned into jigsaw puzzles.