For the second year in a row, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of a beloved Dutch wintertime tradition: the New Year’s Dive in Scheveningen and Zandvoort.
The Netherlands has some fairly unusual traditions, but the New Year’s Dive has got to be one of the craziest (and the coldest!). While many up and down the country were hoping that the event would be able to resume this year, restrictions imposed by the Dutch government mean that, once again, the New Year’s Dive will not be going ahead on January 1.
With a heavy heart, organisers behind the event have announced that some of the key events on New Year’s Day - the dives in Zandvoort, Bloemendaal, and Scheveningen - have been cancelled. The organisation behind the dive in Zandvoort said that the current restrictions and pressure on the healthcare system meant the event couldn't go ahead. "It is not possible to stick to the one and a half meter measure with all the enthusiastic divers and visitors," they said in a statement.
Like last year, an alternative has been offered to hardcore diving fans. The Dutch food brand Unox is once again offering members of the public to order their very own “New Year’s Dive in a Can.” While stocks last, you can order a free can of North Sea Water, which they can pop in the fridge and then throw over themselves (or a loved one) at midday on January 1.