Wristband
There are always many children coming to the beach. Make sure small children have a wristband with contact details on it.
Safe swimming on the Wadden Sea
Safe swimming on the Wadden Sea
The Wadden Islands have beautiful beaches where it is great to spend the summer.
If you are on one of the islands in summer, you will naturally want to swim in the sea.
Read on to find out how to do so safely!
Beach surveillance
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During the summer months, the KNRM lifeguards keep a close watch on the beaches of Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog.The lifeguards can be clearly recognised by their yellow and red clothing. If you have a question about safe swimming, they will be happy to inform you.
See below where and when the lifeguards are active.
Swim between the flags
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If you like to swim in the sea, always do so between the flags. Why? Because this part of the sea is safe and guarded by KNRM lifeguards. While swimming, do pay attention to the use of the flags, because the flags show whether swimming is safe.
Rip current
Rip currents, what are they?
There are sandbanks off the coast and in between water flows through. These are called rip currents. At low tide, the water of these curents flows towards the sea, and at high tide the currents flows towards the beach. The lifeguards know where the rip currents are and guard part of the sea and the beach.
What if you do get caught in a rip current?
It can happen that you do end up in a rip current. In that case, never swim against the current, but stay calm and let the current carry you on your back. Raise your arm and draw the attention of one of the lifeguards or other people. Now wait for help. You can try to swim sideways out of the rip current, proportionate to the beach. Have you succeeded? Then swim calmly back to the beach. In doing so, you can make use of the waves.
Safe swimming on the islands is possible here!
On every Wadden Island, you will find guarded beaches where KNRM lifeguards are happy to keep an eye on the beach and the sea for you, so that you can have a wonderful day at the beach and in the water. See below for each island where the lifeguards are active.
The heroes of KNRM
KNRM stands for Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij (Royal Dutch Rescue Society). At KNRM, many volunteers and employees work together to ensure the safety of people (and sometimes animals) at sea and on inland waterways. The KNRM was founded on 11 November 1824. So this year, KNRM exists 200 years!
What does KNRM do?
The work of the KNRM consists of much more than guarding beaches.
Blogs
In this blog, Tineke de Jong tells us what it is like to work as a lifeguard at KNRM.
