School swimming compulsory?
As shown by the 2024 National Sports Survey, the vast majority of the Dutch population (73%) believes that school swimming should be compulsory at every primary school. There is also repeated political debate on the subject.
Yet the number of municipalities taking action continues to decline, and it does not appear that this will change soon. Half of the municipalities (50%) indicate that nothing will change in their school swimming policy in the future. The majority of municipalities that currently do not offer school swimming also do not expect to do so in the future (57%). Other municipalities (41%) do not yet know what they will do. In these municipalities, discussions are taking place, or they are waiting to see whether a national policy will be introduced.
Source: Mulier Institute.