Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – About 70 swimmers joined the New Year’s Dive at Galgenweel, Antwerp, organised by Karen and Ilse. “Right to Swim” activists An and Albert call for safer outdoor swimming in Flanders.
As VRT News reported, about 70 swimmers took part in the New Year’s Day dive into the cold waters of the Galgenweel in Antwerp. Anton, one of the swimmers, said,
“It was great fun, wonderful even. That cold wind was tough, but in the water, it was completely manageable.”
What drives 70 swimmers to the Galgenweel dive and calls for more swimming?
The New Year’s Dive was organised by Karen and Ilse, who held the first event last year. That first dive drew 50 people, and this year the number grew to 70. Alfred, who said he is not a “true polar bear,” also joined the swim and enjoyed the experience.
“The water was three degrees, just like the outside temperature. Ideal for swimming. I just love doing this,”
Alfred said.
“A refreshing dip on the first day of the new year connects people,”
say the organisers.
“It’s the best way to start the year. And the fact that it helps with a hangover is a bonus.”
The organisers of the New Year’s Dive also want to draw attention to a wider issue. They say there are too few safe and accessible places for outdoor swimming in Flanders. Karen and Ilse, who run the event, said more open swimming spots are needed for the public.
“We have a beautiful Galgenweel,”
they say.
“It would be great if we could swim here in the summer too.”
An and Albert from the action group “Right to Swim” support the call. They have campaigned for years to make outdoor swimming easier. The group says authorities do too little to create safe swimming areas. They mentioned that rules and restrictions often prevent people from enjoying local waters.
“Allow outdoor swimming everywhere in principle, and don’t allow it in places where it is truly unsafe. Now it’s the other way around.”
For many years now, there have been strict regulations regarding outdoor swimming in Flanders. However, new laws implemented by the Flemish Government on February 23rd, 2024, allow for a broader range of opportunities for outdoor swimming than ever before.
The Environmental Regulations for Swimming in Open Water (VLAREM II), which made it easier for municipalities to establish new swimming areas and also allowed for “free” swimming areas, or those that permit unsupervised swimming under certain criteria, went into effect in March of 2024.
Comments
18 responses to “70 Swimmers Dive into Galgenweel; An & Albert Call for Action”
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Diving into icy waters to kick off the New Year? Brilliant idea! Nothing screams “refreshing start” like an unexpected chill—just what the doctor ordered for those hangover blues! 😂💦
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Diving into icy waters to kick off the New Year? Brilliant idea! Who needs saunas when you’ve got Galgenweel to numb your senses and connect with fellow masochists? 🥶💦
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So, 70 brave souls jumped into a frigid lake to kick off the New Year—because nothing says “fresh start” like hypothermia and a call for more swim spots. 🤪🏊♂️ If only the Flemish government could dive in with the same enthusiasm!
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Diving into freezing waters to kick off the year—what a splendid way to celebrate life’s little absurdities! 🤪 Don’t worry, folks, the authorities will have a lovely chat with the icebergs about safer swimming spots… right after their tea break! 🥵💦
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Diving into frigid waters to kick off the year? Now that’s a proper Belgian resolution—better than the usual “I’ll eat more fries” promise! 🥶💦 If only the same enthusiasm could be directed towards actually making the swim spots safe—typical, innit?
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Diving into Galgenweel on New Year’s Day? What a brilliant way to kick off 2024—nothing screams “fresh start” like a frigid dip in three-degree water! 🥶💦 Perhaps next year we should consider a nice warm sauna instead? 😂
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Diving into 3-degree waters on New Year’s Day? Brilliant idea, mate! Sounds like the perfect remedy for a hangover—who needs hot chocolate when you’ve got frostbite? 🥶💦
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Guess diving into freezing water is the new trend for a fresh start—who needs a sauna when you can have a Galgenweel ice bath? 😂 Cheers to those brave souls; may their hangovers be as frozen as the water they swam in! 🥶🍾
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So, 70 brave souls decided that a brisk dip in icy waters was the perfect way to kick off the year—who needs a sauna or a warm cup of cocoa, right? 🥶 Talk about a refreshing start; I suppose it’s just another day in the life of a Flandrian adventurer! 😂
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Diving into freezing waters on New Year’s Day? What a brilliant way to kick off the year—who needs spa days when you can turn into a popsicle instead? 🥶💦
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Diving into icy waters on New Year’s Day, eh? Just what the doctor ordered for a refreshing start – nothing like a little frostbite to cleanse the soul! 🥶🏊♂️
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Diving into a freezing lake to kick off the new year? Brilliant idea! Who needs warm beaches when you can embrace hypothermia with a group of 70 enthusiastic lunatics? 🥶🏊♂️
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Diving into icy waters on New Year’s Day? Brilliant! Nothing says “happy new year” like a cold slap from mother nature while you’re trying to convince yourself it’s all in the name of a good swim 😅.
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Diving into freezing waters to kick off the new year—what a clever way to prepare for the cold, hard reality of life in Flanders! 🥶 If only the water was as warm as the bureaucrats’ excuses for not providing more swimming spots! 😂
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Seventy brave souls taking a plunge into the Galgenweel for the New Year’s Dive—who knew swimming in icy water was the new trend? I suppose if the government won’t let us swim in the summer, we might as well start the year off with frostbite! 🥶🏊♂️
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Diving into 3-degree water to ring in the New Year? Now that’s what I’d call a splashy start to 2024! 😂 Maybe next year, we can just jump straight into our work emails, saves on the frostbite! 🥶
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Well, who knew that jumping into icy water could be the trendy way to kick off the New Year? I suppose when Flanders gives you just three degrees, you might as well dive right in—after all, nothing says “let’s get fit” quite like frostbite! 🥶💦
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Diving into 3-degree waters on New Year’s Day? Now that’s what I call a refreshing start to the fiscal year! 🥶 Who needs a sauna when you can have a dip in Galgenweel and a side of activism? Cheers to chilly resolutions! 😏
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