Quality of bathing water
The quality of bathing water in the Netherlands is generally good. Yet problems do sometimes arise with blue algae and botulism, especially during periods of hot weather.
Bathing water quality in the Netherlands
The quality of bathing water in the Netherlands has improved sharply in recent years. Ten years ago, fewer than half of the locations met the legal requirements. At present, 92.2% of the coastal waters and 84.6% of the freshwater bathing sites meet the requirements. As a result, our country scores close to the European average.
Monitoring bathing water quality
The national government and the district water boards regularly monitor the quality of bathing water in the Netherlands. Along the coast and on large rivers, the national government is responsible for monitoring water quality. The district water boards are responsible for the quality of the regional surface water.