Safe swimming in the sea

Swimming in the sea can be a wonderful experience, but it also has its dangers. Strong currents can be treacherous, especially in the vicinity of breakwaters.

For your own safety, always check the latest swimming safety conditions. This can be done in two ways:

• checking the flags on the beach: a red flag means that swimming is not advised. a yellow flag means that swimming can be dangerous.
• consulting the website of the Reddingsbrigade (Hague Volunteer Rescue Brigade) and WestText (teletext) pages 154 and 155 on Omroep West TV. There you can always find the latest information.

Rock barriers

Swimmers should stay alert and steer clear of any rock barriers, or groynes, in the water. Strong currents can develop around these breakwaters. 

While a number of the rock barriers were removed during the sand supplementation project, swimmers are advised to take a number of precautions. You should not go too far into the sea (keeping the water at hip level) and keep a close eye on a fixed point on the coast. If you deviate too far from this fixed point, come out of the sea, walk back a bit and then re-enter the sea again from the fixed point. And never go into the water alone.

If you do encounter problems around the rock barriers, never swim directly into the current. It is better to swim with the current around the breakwater and then diagonally back to the coast.

Video about safe swimming

For more information, view the video made by TV West and the Municipality of The Hague.

Het YouTube kanaal van Den Haag
Veilig zwemmen

You can find more information about beach safety and the Rescue Brigade here.