Safety for all

Beachtip 1: Orientationpoles

On various beaches in Zeeland there are orientation poles. On top of these are funny figures or cartoon characters, so for children it is easy to find where their family is sitting, after a swim or paddle they can find their way back safely.  Some showers also have filters for legionnaires disease.

At some of the life guard posts you can get arm bands for children, on which you write the phone number and name of family, so that a lost child can quickly be reunited with its family.

Beachtip 2: Flags

The life guards have assorted flags, each flag has a special meaning, they are red or green  or have a question mark on them.

Beachtip 3: Safety

Swimming is at your own risk, if you follow the life guards instructions you will be ok, If you go too far or get into a strong current  try to do this:

- let the current take you  don’t fight against it
- try to swim at an angle
- stay near the breakers
- always follow the life guards instructions

Beachtip 4: Help

In the event of emergency the life guards will always help you! The emergency telephone number in the Netherlands is 112.

Beachtip 5: Breakers / groynes

On beaches in Zeeland you find sea breakers or groynes. These are sort of mini dams made of basalt blocks with poles set in them (some singly some double rows). These wave breakers are part of the coastal defences to lessen the power of the waves, depending on the ebb or flow these poles are under water. For swimmers this can be dangerous because of the sharp shells of the creatures that live on the poles, also the poles change the strength of the currents around them. So be aware of where you swim and warn the children, these groynes are also dangerous when wet as they are very slippery even out of the water. So keep well away from the poles.