If you feel like going for a dip during your holiday in Amsterdam, you have quite the selection to choose from. There are 10 public swimming pool compounds with both indoor and outdoor pools in Amsterdam. You can also find 7 different open air swimming areas around the city. We have listed some of our favourite ones below.
Het Marnix
Het Marnix is a great multi-functional sports centre in the downtown area with a rich history that started in 1955. The sports centre is composed of a basement floor from which three interconnected volumes emerge, each featuring a different facade. Due to its great location, you can enjoy a view of the Jordaan while you are doing your sports activities. Het Marnix will win your heart with versatile, modern facilities and a cozy atmosphere. It’s perfect for lane swimming. If you are more about relaxed swimming, you can choose another pool where you can swim alongside an old canal and chill in the sauna on the roof terrace. The spacious gym with modern equipment, hot saunas, tanning area and cafe with the outside terrace are the features of the perfect sports day with your friends or family.
Zuiderbad
One of the oldest swimming pools in Amsterdam, Zuiderbad, opened its doors in 1912. It is also considered to be one of the most beautiful ones. The art-deco building is classified as a historical monument and located just behind the Rijksmuseum. Its distinctive character is featured by a mosaic fountain, daylight through a pretty glass roof and wooden cabins surrounding the swimming pool. Central heating and electric lighting make it possible for bathers to use the impressive building in the winter as well. At Zuiderbad you can enjoy whirlpools, herbal baths, steam baths, and tanning salons. On Sundays, there are skinny dippings sessions for those who fancy nude swimming. There are also many organized activities for families, in reserved slots. Furthermore, you can take swimming lessons individually or with the group.
De Mirandabad
De Mirandabad became a true subtropical paradise in the centre of Amsterdam. Its swimming pool complex has a beach, palm trees, several indoor and outdoor pools, wave machines, squash courts, a solarium and a restaurant. It is the perfect place to spend the day with kids. There are even swimming discos taking place where you can dance to the DJ’s tunes! You can enjoy a summery atmosphere in the wave pool all year round in De Mirandabad. Also, you can find herbal steam-hot tubs and a whirlpool. The outdoor swimming pool has a toddlers’ pool and a children’s play island with a large family slide. De Mirandabad provides lessons of lap swimming, recreational swimming, paddling pool, free swimming for 55+, aqua jogging, endurance swimming and maternity swimming. Take note that the outdoor pools are closed from 1 September to 1 May.
Optisport Sloterparkbad
Since it opened in 2001, the Sloterpark Swimming Pool has been considered to be one of the best and biggest swimming centres in the Netherlands, located next to the Sloterplas lake. The Sloterparkbad has several indoor and outdoor pools, including a 50-meter pool big enough to host international swimming events. There is a recreation beach area along the lake so you can swim in the lake too. Sloterpark hosts two excellent festivals: Loveland in August and West Beach Film Festival in September. The indoor facilities include a 50-metre pool for swimming laps, a wading pool, slide, whirlpools and even a waterside bar for drinks and snacks. Here you can also find a diving pool with 1-metre and 3-metre diving boards. During the summer, you can spend your time swimming in the enormous 5-hectare outdoor swimming area with a 25-metre pool, wading pool and playground. Sloterparkbad offers various swimming programs for all ages including Ladies Night, Parent and Child Swimming. Here you can take Freestyle and various Aqua sport lessons.
Flevoparkbad
The Flevoparkbad is an outdoor swimming pool located on the edge of the spacious Flevopark in Amsterdam Oost. It has been called one of the best outdoor swimming pools in the world by Le Monde newspaper. One of its privileges is so much green space where people can sunbathe and kids can run around and enjoy the play area when they’re not splashing in the water. Flevoparkbad has 4 hectares of parkland with an Olympic sized (50 meter) pool for swimming laps or training (150 cm-350 cm deep), an equally sized shallow pool (40 cm-150 cm deep) for children and a special pool for toddlers. The water is heated. Large meadows for sunbathing or relaxing in the shade of trees, playground, sports facilities and a cafeteria complete the area. There is a range of weekly courses such as Swim4fit swimming, yoga, Tai chi and outdoor training and also plenty of lockers to leave your valuables. The swimming pool is open every year from the end of April through the beginning of September.