NETHERLANDS: Thousands of Dutch men and women celebrate the New Year with traditional North Sea dive

Record ID: 862663

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: Thousands of Dutch men and women celebrate the New Year with traditional North Sea dive
  • Date: 2nd January 2010
  • Summary: THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS (JANUARY 1, 2010) (REUTERS) CROWD RUNNING TOWARDS THE SEA CROWD IN THE SEA VARIOUS OF CROWD SPLASHING AND DIVING AND SCREAMING YOUNG GIRL SPLASHING TWO GIRLS RUNNING OUT OF THE WATER (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch), ESTHER, SAYING: "It was great, this is our second time.!" (SOUNDBITE) (English), ANNEMARIE, SAYING: "It's our first time. Next year we do it again." PEOPLE DRYING UNDER THE BLANKETS TWO COUPLES IN EVENING SUITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Netherlands
  • City:
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAALB18N7YS83B5KJPTYM6P4BY3
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: The North Sea is icy cold.
    But for thousands of Dutch men and women it's like a magnet on New Year's Day, and they must jump in.
    The New Year Dive (January 1) is a tradition in the Netherlands.
    All over the country people brave sub-zero temperatures to take to the sea, or lakes, rivers and canals, for their first very chilly dip of the year.
    At Scheveningen, the beach resort of the capital The Hague, this year was no exception. Organisers were expecting around 10,000 people to take part.
    Many wear orange hats, the national colour of the Netherlands.
    The sponsors, Unox sausage factory, raise money for charity.
    The New Year Dive has been going for about 40 years and is winning converts every time.
    Esther and Anne Marie aim to be back next year to do it all again.
    A bowl of hot pea soup is waiting for those who take the plunge.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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