A diploma for swimming? You might be asked if your child has one if you take her swimming in The Netherlands! Why all the fuss, and what does this mean to Dutch people? Let’s take a stab at this rite of passage for Dutch children.

Concept

At public pools and water parks in The Netherlands, staff are on the look out for children who are not yet excellent swimmers. If your child does not have a diploma, he or she will be required to wear a life jacket or water wings, usually provided free of cost. This is also the case if you are with your child in the water and even if you are holding your child. While the concept is safe and practical, it can be annoying as a parent, since you are basically not allowed to teach your child to swim. What gives?

The Netherlands is not alone. Several European countries and Australia have swimming certification programs for children (though I wonder if they are as strict as The Netherlands). In The Netherlands nearly every child earns a Diploma A, the lowest level certification. This allows them to swim publicly without assistance. Many children also go on to earn a B or C diploma. At the C level, a child is highly skilled and able to swim long and well, even if fully clothed. Canals and other waterways are plentiful in The Netherlands, so a high level of swimming skill can be life saving. That is probably where this dedication to swimming lessons all started.

Cost

Once upon a time swimming lessons were part of public education in The Netherlands. Nowadays they are privately paid and happen outside of school hours. This is a big cost for parents, both in time and money. The programs are expensive (think €800 for Diploma A) and take years to complete. Yes, YEARS! Lessons occur just once per week, so progress is incremental and slow. If you have several children, you will be hauling your kids to and from swim lessons for what feels like eons.

This is the first extracurricular activity for most Dutch kids. Parents value the high level of swim proficiency that results, but mostly I think they accept the whole package as an important part of Dutch culture. When I tell friends that my other children took just one week of swimming lessons in the US and the rest I taught them myself - - - well, it’s another planet.

Lessons

Children can begin with swim lessons as young as 4 years old, but many parents wait until the child is older as that can reduce the total length of the process. Expect a year-long waiting list! Elora began when she was almost 6 years old and earned her diploma A just shy of two years later. The average time required to achieve diploma A is 1 1/2 years. Diplomas B and C are quicker, requiring 3-4 months for each.

A typical swim lesson occurs in an indoor heated pool for about 45 minutes. The teaching style is very gradual and gentle, which also contributes to the length of the program. Parents are invited for special viewing days, but mostly it’s a hands-off process. I was kept updated on Elora’s progress through an app that detailed her proficiency with each skill.

Mostly Elora enjoyed her lessons, though there were moments in the learning process which she found frightening. For me it was an initiation into Dutch parenting culture. Like all the other moms and dads, I awaited Elora’s return to the locker room with towel in hand. Once the kids group in, they shower off and change unselfconsciously while chatting in Dutch about their adventures.

The Diploma

When a child earns his or her swim diploma, it really is a big deal. After putting in a lot of hard work, they have learned to tread water with clothes and shoes on, swim strokes, dive, swim through an “escape hole” under water and swim 50 meters. This achievement opens doors to swim freely at fun places, but it’s also a rite of passage. Family members might even travel to witness the diploma swim ceremony and celebrate. A child often receives congratulatory gifts!

Elora earned her A diploma last week. We celebrated with decadent ice cream sundaes at our favorite ice cream salon. She took her diploma to school the next day to show her classmates, and was rewarded with a round of applaus. Now she is working on her B diploma.

At the end of all this, Elora will be the most highly trained swimmer in our family by far. Maybe she will be a lifeguard some day ;)