About 200 brave men and women took the traditional Christmas dive into the pond of the Koude Keuken domain in Sint-Andries near Bruges this afternoon. The Bruges Ice Bear Circle has been organizing this jump into the cold water for more than 50 years.
With or without a Santa hat, the participants jumped into the water around four o’clock. Franky Moelaert of the Royal Swimming Club De Brugse IJsberenkring emphasizes that a good warm-up is essential. “Normally, real polar bears prefer it a bit colder, around 3 to 4 degrees. But today 6 degrees is actually quite warm. For real polar bears, it could be a bit colder.”
Despite the warmer water, it was still an unforgettable experience for many. “That’s just wonderful, a real experience. Your blood starts flowing through your whole body and everything starts to tingle,” says one participant.