Dutch people dip in icy water to welcome New Year

BLOEMENDAAL (Netherlands): Hundreds of Dutch people dashed into the icy North Sea in the coastal city of Bloemendaal for a dip on Monday morning to celebrate the New Year.

“It’s a great start of the New Year,“ said a beaming participant named Daniel, who has just finished his fifth yearly dip, to Xinhua. “I really enjoyed it.”

On the same day, thousands in other places across the Netherlands took part in similar events, jumping into the sea or a lake to welcome the New Year.

The Dutch tradition started in the coastal city of Zandvoort in 1960, when a swimming club decided to start the year fresh with a plunge in the sea. Nowadays, similar events are organised in dozens of locations across the country.

After the exhilarating dip, participants emerged from the water, shivering but with smiles on their faces.

They wrapped themselves in warm towels and headed towards a cup of hot soup or chocolate.

After finishing her dip in Bloemendaal, Magica, a local resident, told Xinhua that she has engaged in the cold dip nearly every year over the past two decades.

“It’s very cold, (creating) a tingling (sensation) for my body. But very nice,“ she said, smiling. “Happy New Year!”–Bernama-Xinhua