New Year’s Dive

The annual tradition of the New Year’s Dive (Nieuwjaarsduik) will be taken by some 10,000 people in the icy cold waters of the North Sea by the Pier at Scheveningen. It’s the ideal way to begin 2012 in a refreshing way.

Since 1969 all swimming fanatics, heroes, enthusiasts and the superstitious have greeted the New Year by plunging into an icy cold North Sea. To emphasise the Dutch tradition, organisers also ask participants to wear something orange. The more outlandish, the better.

At exactly midday (12.00 hrs.) on 1 January, the official starting shot will sound and all the daredevils gathered by the Pier will go for the swim. All participants will be treated to a piping hot bowl of snert (split pea soup) after their plunge into the icy waters.

Charity
This year Unox has chosen The Hague Volunteer Rescue Brigade (Reddingsbrigade/HVRB) as its charity. Unox will donate € 1 to this organisation for every participant in the New Year’s Dive.

The HVRB operates five lifeguard posts from Kijkduin to Scheveningen. More than 100 volunteer lifeguards keep a vigilant watch over the beach each day during the summer from mid-May to mid-September. Each year these volunteers rescue 100 to 150 people from drowning. They also provide information, administer first aid, take in ‘lost’ children and keep a watchful eye on bathers and swimmers.

Registration
All participants in the Unox New Year’s Dive in Scheveningen receive a Unox cap, gloves, a souvenir pennant and the ‘Terugblik’, a special edition of the Unox split pea soup in a tin. Joining the dive costs only € 2, with € 1 going to this year’s charity. Registration begins at 10.30 hrs. on the beach. Make sure you’re on time because a maximum of 10,000 people are allowed to take part and you’ll need time to change your clothes.

Visit www.unoxnieuwjaarsduik.nl.

TheHague.com