Date: 7 January 2025
Issued by: Nederlandse Stichting Water- & Zwemveiligheid (NSWZ)
Today the Mulier Instituut published an alarming report on the decline of school swimming in Dutch municipalities. Whereas in 2020 a third of municipalities still supported school swimming, by 2024 that figure had dropped to just 23%. At the same time, the Nationaal Sportonderzoek 2024 shows that a large part of the population wants to make school swimming compulsory. Politicians are once again responding to these findings, but the Nederlandse Stichting Water- & Zwemveiligheid (NSWZ) is warning against superficial solutions and points to information that is crucial to the debate yet currently missing.
Criticism of a one-sided focus and missing context
The NSWZ stresses that the call to reintroduce school swimming is a complex issue. Chair Shiva de Winter says:
“We're seeing a growing demand for school swimming from the public and from politicians, but what's often missing is an honest picture of the real problem. It's all too easy to lay the responsibility for swimming safety at the door of schools. The real question is: how do we structurally improve children's swimming ability without taking away the responsibility of parents?”
De Winter points out that school swimming can only ever be part of the solution. What matters more is an integrated approach involving all stakeholders: municipal sports organisations, semi-commercial operators and commercial swimming schools. The current situation, in which commercial swimming schools depend entirely on their own income, creates inequality and limits access to swimming lessons for children from financially vulnerable families.
The need for structural collaboration
The NSWZ argues for a broad approach that goes beyond simply reintroducing school swimming. A clear distinction must be drawn between swimming lessons and pool management, and all parties – municipal, semi-commercial and commercial – should be given equal opportunities to keep swimming lessons accessible and affordable.
One possible solution the foundation puts forward is the creation of a national fund for swimming lessons. Such a fund could provide subsidies and support to all types of swimming providers, with the aim of lowering the financial barrier for parents and guaranteeing swimming safety for every child.
De Winter adds:
“If we don't act now, in five years' time we'll still be talking about the same problems. The NSWZ calls on The Hague to encourage transparency and collaboration. Only by involving all the parties concerned can we find a lasting solution and prevent children from becoming the victims of political short-sightedness.”
A call to politicians
The NSWZ urges politicians to take responsibility and develop policy that safeguards the swimming safety of all children in the Netherlands. This can only be achieved by involving all stakeholders in the decision-making process and working together to find solutions that reach beyond the reintroduction of school swimming.
“Swimming lessons are not a luxury, but an essential life skill. We can't afford to let children grow up without access to good-quality, affordable swimming lessons. Let's act now, before it's too late,” De Winter concludes.
End of press release
For more information or interviews:
Shiva de Winter
Chair, Nederlandse Stichting Water- & Zwemveiligheid (NSWZ)
Article published by the Mulier Instituut:
- Van Nispen and Mohandis put swimming safety on the map: the impact of the adopted motions.2025-09-12
- School Swimming Lessons: An Impossible Dream or a Realistic Plan?2025-03-11
- Opinion: Shorter showers and the soap ban in swimming pools—cost-cutting in disguise?2025-01-20
- Mulier Instituut sows confusion with one-sided figures on swimming safety2025-01-15
- Swimming Lessons in 2025: The Priorities2025-01-01