Very warm weather, but waters are still cold; Swimmers warned to be careful

Summer weather has finally hit the Netherlands, and many are celebrating with a dip in natural waters. That is great and part of summer in the Netherlands, but beware that some waters may still be shockingly gold, the Rescue Brigade warned. The North Sea shore is already at 18 degrees Celsius after the mildest spring temperatures on record.

“We mainly see this increased danger at popular recreational lakes, which are often gravel ponds or sand quarries. These are waters that are very flat and shallow on the sides but very deep in the middle. The difference between hot and cold water is abrupt, especially now that the sun has only just started shining,” Ernst Brokmeier of the Rescue Brigade explained to Omroep Brabant.

The high temperature on Tuesday ranged from 25 to 29 degrees Celsius by 3 p.m. It can even hit 30 degrees in some places on Wednesday and Thursday, said Jaco van Wezel from Weeronline.

An abrupt change from warm to cold can give a body a cold shock, the Rescue Brigade noted. “You probably recognize that effect, for example, from when you jump into a cold shower. Then your breath halts, your muscles become weak, and you suddenly start shivering.” A cold shock is not dangerous in itself but can cause problems in deep water.

Water temperatures can initially be deceiving, Van Wezel warned. While waters have warmed up inland to 20 to 22 degrees, deeper areas can certainly be colder "especially at the beginning of summer," he said. This can lead to swimmer's cramp and hypothermia.

The Rescue Brigade isn’t trying to discourage swimmers; it is only asking them to swim safely. Only go swimming in designated swimming areas where water safety and quality have been checked. Many of these areas also have lifeguards on duty, with a full list published online.

Brokmeier has three additional tips for staying safe while swimming in open water. Firstly, never go swimming alone. “Always make sure there is someone watching you,” Brokmeier said.

“Secondly, if you can’t swim, don’t swim. That sounds obvious, but it often goes wrong.”

Thirdly, if you see someone in trouble, think about yourself, too. “Never jump into the water to save someone. Unfortunately, we often see this: the rescuer gets into serious trouble or even dies, while the drowning person can be saved. So consider carefully whether you are able to help that person.” Rather call the emergency services, Brokmeier advised.