After 75 years, Texel stops using students as lifeguards on beaches
After 75 years, students from the Utrecht Student Corps (USC) will no longer serve as summer lifeguards on Texel’s beaches, NOS reports. The Texel municipal council voted 9-6 in favor of ending the longstanding arrangement, citing past reports of sexually inappropriate behavior by male student lifeguards.
The decision marks the end of a decades-old tradition dating back to 1950, when members of the Utrecht Student Work Camp (USW), affiliated with the USC, worked as lifeguards—also called Bademeisters—to help pay off debts to their student association.
The move follows reports of sexually inappropriate conduct by Utrecht lifeguards in past summers. Four Texel women approached GroenLinks chair Jacquelien Dros earlier this year with claims of abuse, which she described as “horrific stories.” The police confirmed receiving two reports of sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior.
“Safety on the beaches, and the sense of safety in society, is our top priority,” said Ferry Zegel of GroenLinks, whose party submitted the motion with the PvdA, CDA, and D66.
Faction leader Veronne Koot of GroenZwart opposed the motion, noting the misconduct did not occur recently and the exact dates are unclear. “We find it painful and unfair to hold people accountable for things they did not do,” Koot said.
Suggested alternatives include the Texel Rescue Brigade and the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM). The council motion instructs the municipal executive to select the best option.
