Fortunately, financial pressure plays a little less at the Molenbad and that is also because it has been working hard on sustainability in recent years. For example, solar panels and heat panels are on the roof and heat pumps are used. “The energy costs are normally very high, now the swimming pool is heated by the sun and we are gasless. That huge the costs,” says Kok.
Volunteers are essential
The fact that outdoor swimming pools are struggling also recognizes Viktoria Frensch-Hoogland, she is swimming pools and coordinator swimming lessons at the Samenwerkende Swimming Pools West-Friesland. That foundation is responsible for five outdoor pools in the municipality of Medemblik. “The regulations have become stricter and finding qualified personnel is always difficult. Fortunately our swimming pools have a lot of time on the ride. And that is partly due to the volunteers who are essential.”
This also applies to the Molenbad where they are still looking for volunteers who want to strengthen the flex team. “I am the only paid force at the Molenbad. The rest is done by volunteers. We can still use people in particular behind the cash register, otherwise we cannot open,” says Karin Kok.