If you ever secretly dreamed of swimming around like mermaid but didn’t quite know how to get started, your prayers have been answered. "Mermaiding" is seen as both an artistic expression and a fun way to stay in shape, as those fish tails way up to 15 kg.

The Netherlands now boasts its first official mermaid training school for adults at Dijnselburg swimming pool in Zeist, a cooperative venture with ESKO Diveworld.

You will learn safety rules, freediving, how to hold your breath, the correct posture and how to swim with the costume. The course is open to mermen as well!

Marijke Pie, or "Mermaid Crystal", is in charge of the mermaid course and can be seen in action below.