Dutch beaches introduce new warning flags to improve safety communication
As the beach season approaches, new warning flags will be introduced along the Dutch coastline to better inform beachgoers of potential hazards in the sea. For years, the Dutch used a system of red, yellow, and red-yellow flags to indicate different levels of danger. However, research revealed that many beach visitors did not fully understand the meaning of these flags, leading to potential risks, NOS reports.
Chris Olivers, a researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, conducted a study to examine why the current flag system failed to communicate the necessary warnings effectively. He explained that the problem lies in the public’s lack of awareness and attention to the flags. "People don’t immediately think about safety when they go to the beach. They’re more focused on enjoying their day," Olivers told NOS. "The understanding of the current flags is poor."
Additionally, the inconsistency in color usage across the flag system added to the confusion. For example, the yellow flag, which represents caution, was often not seen as a serious warning because of its association with the less urgent red flag. Olivers found that three out of four people still entered the water when a yellow flag was raised, even though the advice was not to swim. "A red-yellow flag is associated with danger, but it actually signals that there is supervision," he noted, pointing to a misinterpretation of the flag's meaning.
To address these issues, the new flags will maintain the traditional colors for consistency with international systems, but they will now include additional symbols for clarity. The red flag will feature an image of a swimmer with a no-entry sign across it, clearly indicating that swimming is prohibited. The red-yellow flag, previously thought to signify immediate danger, will now display an image of a lifeguard in a chair, signifying that supervision is in place. The yellow flag, which previously caused confusion, will feature a drowning person, symbolizing that it is dangerous to enter the water.
In an effort to make the new system more universally understandable, text will also be added to the flags, including English translations. Olivers explained, "We chose to add text in English because a significant number of visitors to Dutch beaches come from abroad. We also assume that most Dutch people are familiar with the terms 'warning' and 'do not swim.'"
