Dutch Swim lessons

These lessons are not like ours in the States- no red cross, learn your 4 strokes, etc. lessons. This is learn strokes that are important to surviving, if you were to fall into a canal. If you did not know, Amsterdam is below sea level, there are canals everywhere, and the primary mode of transportation is by bike. At one point, there was some flooding, and it killed many school children. The Government then decided that all children had to take Survival swimming, so that if flooding, or falling into one of the many canals ever happened again, they would be able to save themselves, and schools in the Netherlands are required to make it part of their curriculum.

"The ability to float and breathe, regardless of the water's depth, for an indefinite period of time. Children are naturally drawn to lakes, ponds, rivers, canals, beaches, and pools. It only takes a second for an accident to occur no matter how careful a parent supervises their child."

There are 3 diploma levels, and in order to be able to swim in a pool in the Netherlands, without an adult with you (if you are under the age of 18), you must pass at least the first Diploma A level. With these levels, they are taught basic swim skills, basic swim strokes, as well as swimming through tubes, opening and keeping your eyes open underwater, and swimming in everything from shorts, shirt and sneakers to winter coat and boots. Hanna is required to take this swimming every Thursday as part of her schooling, and until she gets her diploma (Maya too), I need to be in the pool with them...not too thrilled about that one!

Survival swimming- Diploma practice