Several (outdoor) swimming pools and swimming schools in West Friesland come to the rescue of swimming lessons for children, when De Zeehoek swimming pool in Wervershoof closes its doors for good at the end of July. Hundreds of children then have to move to another swimming pool.
After the board of De Zeehoek announced in early March that the swimming pool will close its doors at the end of July, was the big question where all swimmers should go. Swimming lessons of about 750 children were due to expire.
Meanwhile, the other swimming pools in West Friesland jumped into the breach. Jos Oostenbrink, chairman of De Zeehoek, is satisfied with the completion of the swimming pool. “Our aim remains to have as many children as possible swim before July 31. The staff is fully committed to this. Still, it is very nice to know that children who take swimming lessons with us and do not yet have a diploma at the time of closing, can can enter their own level at one of the mentioned swimming schools in the region.”
Plenty of space
Several swimming pools and swimming schools have indicated that they can jump into the gap that has arisen: De Kloet in Grootebroek, Enkhuizerzand in Enkhuizen, De Waterhoorn in Hoorn, Jos Koelemeijer in Hoogwoud, Ed van Rozelaar in Medemblik and De Wirg in Winkel. There is also plenty of room at the five outdoor swimming pools in the municipality of Medemblik.
The municipality of Medemblik is happy with the help provided. “As a municipality, we have made an effort to map out the alternatives, so that parents know where they can go for swimming lessons when De Zeehoek closes. The fact that the swimming pool has to close is annoying enough. In any case, there is enough space for the children to continue swimming, “says alderman Gerben Gringhuis. Nothing has yet been arranged for the elderly.
Bart Trimmer (De Zeehoek): ‘Two more swim moments’
About 500 children will swim at De Zeehoek in the coming months. The staff has not been idle in the past two months: no less than 169 children have obtained their swimming diploma after the news.
“In June and July there are still two swimming moments. Hopefully a large group will swim off then. We will not reach zero, but we will do our best to have as many children as possible obtain their diploma,” says manager Bart Timmer of De Zeehoek “We will continue to get the kids ready until the pool closes for good.”