For Erik Polderman, a surf school is more than just giving surfing lessons. On the beach at De Koog on Texel, he also teaches children the dangers of the sea. It is so important for the youth growing up on the island that they know that the sea can be treacherous. He visits Texel primary schools and secondary schools to draw attention to the dangers of the sea.
Not only Texel residents, but also tourists know how to find Erik’s surf school. “Although you can surf all year round, we have the peak in the summer,” says Erik. “We want to make sure that we are a ‘community center’ for the children, where they can be themselves. A nice second home, actually.”
The surf school owner is also active in Texel primary schools, where he tells students more about what to do if they are in danger in the water. Texel has victims every year as a result of drowning due to the strong currents. Mouses, in particular, can be treacherous. A mui is a kind of channel in the sandbank that is perpendicular to the beach, through which the water flows to the sea with great force.
“It is now quite a hot item in politics. It is important for the children to know how to deal with this and how to save themselves. We visit schools on the island for this,” says Erik. He has no intention of stopping anytime soon. “If it’s up to me, I’ll never leave here. It’s such a beautiful place. It really feels like a second home to me.”