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Excellent: 537Good: 126Sufficient: 51Not classified: 12Poor: 31
⚠️ Rated Poor in Netherlands — think twice
A Poor classification means persistent contamination across recent seasons. Authorities must advise against bathing, or ban it, at these sites.
- 't Petje Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- 't Skarpet Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Aldegeaster Brekken, Oudega Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Andijk Zwemstrand Poor
- Binnenschelde Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Botjeszwembaai Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Camping 't Stepelerven Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- De Rietschoof Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Dorregeest Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Haarlemmermeerse Bos, Spartelvijver Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Haarlemmermeerse Bos, Zuidstrand Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Kurenpolder de Baai Poor 🆕 New site — not enough seasons for a track record
- Maarsseveense Plassen Strandbad Poor
- Moekesgat, Ter Apel Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Oude Tol Poor 🆕 New site — not enough seasons for a track record
- Parc Emslandermeer, Vlagtwedde Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Plas Slingeland Poor
- Proostmeer, Wagenborgen Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Rcn Strand Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Recreatiepark 't Kleine Zeetje Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Recreatieplas Toolenburg, Speelvijver Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Reitdiep, Garnwerd Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Rhederlaag Bahrsche Strand Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Rohel, Rohel Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Ruitershorn, Muntendam Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Strand de Strook, Peuterbad Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Terherne Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Tsjûkemar Ulesprong, Sint Nicolaasga Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Voorveldse Polder (speelvijver) Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Westeinderplassen, Zwemsteiger Herenweg Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
…and 1 more. Full list across Europe →
✅ The safest bets in Netherlands
Sites that have held the top rating five seasons in a row — not a one-year fluke.
- Smokkelstrand de Flaasbloem Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Spoekeplas, Noordwolde Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Strandbad Winterwijk Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Kurenpolder, Zwemplas Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Beldert Beach Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Watergoed Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Camping de Waay Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Wylerbergmeer Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Googpad Noordoost Strand (spiegelplas) Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Geestmerambacht, Zwembaai 6 Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Oosterbad Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- 't Wed Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
📈 Turned around
These were rated Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago and are Excellent today.
- Geestmerambacht, Zwembaai 8 Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Plassen Madestein, Loosduinen Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Het Verlaat Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- De Vogel Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Grote Rietplas - Rietstrand Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- De Driesprong, Langelille Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Zandput Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Hooge Oude Veer Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Wijthmenerplas Zuid Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Recreatiestrand Resort Marina Oolderhuuske Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
📍 Destinations in Netherlands
- Amsterdam
66 excellent of 122 within 35 km - Rotterdam
68 excellent of 100 within 35 km - The Hague
57 excellent of 88 within 35 km - Zandvoort
45 excellent of 87 within 35 km - Texel
10 excellent of 15 within 35 km
Common questions about swimming in Netherlands
Is it safe to swim in Netherlands?
Mostly yes. 72% of Netherlands's 757 officially monitored bathing sites hold the top "Excellent" class in the 2025 assessment, but 31 sites are rated Poor — bathing there is advised against or banned all season.
Which beaches in Netherlands should I avoid?
The 31 rated Poor: 't Petje, 't Skarpet, Aldegeaster Brekken, Oudega, Andijk Zwemstrand, Binnenschelde, Botjeszwembaai and 25 more. Poor means the site failed the minimum standard across four seasons of sampling.
Where is the water cleanest in Netherlands?
434 sites have held the top rating five seasons running — a far better signal than a single good year. Around Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague you will find the densest clusters.
How often is water quality tested in Netherlands?
Through the whole bathing season. National sanitary authorities sample each official site for E. coli and intestinal enterococci, report to the European Environment Agency, and the published class reflects the last four seasons combined.
Ratings are the official season-long classification, computed from the last four seasons of sampling — not a live reading. After a storm any site can be temporarily worse; local advisories win.