Natural swimming

The North Sea is not the only place where you can take a refreshing dip. There are numerous locations in and around The Hague which are perfect for freshwater swimmers. You will also find some great interactive water playgrounds especially for children.

The Province of Zuid-Holland has a list of 20 swimming sites in a natural environment in and around The Hague. These are generally ponds, river tributaries and water parks. 

On its website, the province provides full details of each site, with information on the equipment available and details of water quality (in Dutch and English, and partly also in French and German). For details of the locations of these natural swimming sites, click here.

Please note that the swimming season in the Netherlands traditionally starts on 1 May (ending in October) and the information is therefore not collected until just before this date. The province’s specialist teams collect information on a fortnightly basis.

For the latest information on swimming water quality in and around The Hague, visit the Province of Zuid-Holland website (in English).

Outdoor swimming locations

In The Hague, you can enjoy swimming outdoors in a natural environment at Madestein pond which has three 'beaches': Loosduinen (Madesteinweg), the north bank (Madepolderweg) and the south bank (Madepolderweg). Click here to read about the boating facilities at De Madelief.

In the area around The Hague you can also find a large selection of locations for freshwater swimming as well as water playgrounds:

• Bleiswijk: Bleiswijkse Zoom, Kooilaan
• Delft: Delftse Hout, Twee Molentjeskade 82
  
• Delft: Korftlaan water playground, near the entrance to De Schaapskooi restaurant
• Delft: Tanthof water playground, Kalfjeslaan
  
• Leidschendam: Vlietland beach - northeast bank
• Leidschendam: Vlietland play pond, from the Gele Lis car park, section P, cross the bridge and turn right
• Leidschendam: Vlietland surfing beach - northwest bank, Rietpolderweg
• Naaldwijk: Prinsenbos pond, Grote Achterweg
• Naaldwijk: Wollebrand, Broekpolderlaan
• Nootdorp: Dobbeplas, Oudeweg
• Maassluis: Oranjepolder pond, Schenkeldijk
  
• Monster: Ter Heide
  
• Rijswijk: Ter Werve natural lake (De Put), Huis te Landelaan 29a
• Rijswijk: Tubasingel water adventure park, Tubasingel
• Rijswijk: Wilhelminapark pond, Hazepad
  
• Zoetermeer: Noord Aa beach and play pond, first car park, Aziëweg

Swimming Hotline

The Province of Zuid-Holland has also set up a special Swimming Hotline (Zwemwatertelefoon) providing the latest information on swimming water quality. Simply call (070) 441 75 50. The helpline is open from 8.30 until 16.00 hrs.

You can also send an e-mail to zwemwater@pzh.nl or consult teletext page 725 (in Dutch).

For more information, visit our page on swimming water quality.