Welcome to the water. The summer of 2018 will go down in the books as a very hot summer. Dry, sunny and warm like never before. Then you are lucky that you live in the Netherlands, the waterland par excellence. When we were invited by the HISWA association to spend an afternoon in the harbor of Naarden, we did not hesitate for a moment to accept this welcome on the water. Because what could be nicer than spending a warm day on the water.
Table of Contents
The HISWA Association is the trade association for companies in yacht building, water sports and recreation. This association wants to encourage young families to get out on the water more often. The 'Welcome to the water' campaign is part of this. Only a small part of the Dutch can only be found on the water once or more a year. To enthuse young families, they organize a “welcome on the water”. With this, HISWA wants to show that one day on the water feels the same as a week's holiday.
We were more than welcome at the marina of Naarden. Before our camping adventure begins, it is nice to immerse ourselves in the luxurious atmosphere that Het Gooi exudes. Can you imagine. Hip, young families with designer clothes who arrive with their cargo bike full of children and swimming gear. Big sunglasses and ditto sun hat. And all those hats know each other and drink a glass of white wine together. And then you have us. People from Brabant in Zara outfits with a large Hema shopper containing our swimming gear. The contrast is great, but wonderful to behold.
In the harbor the children could sail a boat, paddle board, sail or canoe, sail with the rescue brigade or catamaran or roll over the water in a water ball. Our children are now real water rats. My son has enjoyed playing water polo for several years now. But our children also enjoy being on and in the water as entertainment. When we are at our local beach pool, a trip with the pedal boat or canoe is often on the program and they discover the underwater world, armed with diving goggles and landing net.
Maybe a new hobby will be added. Our daughter has been talking about “supping” for a while now. SUP stands for Stand Up Paddle. You are, as it were, on a kind of surfboard. You move yourself with the help of a paddle. It seemed great to her. A whim, I thought. She wants to participate in that. Hubby had bought a supboard right away, but had to send it back to me. Too expensive for those two times she would be on it on vacation. And how the hell do we get this board with us?!
I was probably wrong, as is often the case. The answer to the question what they most wanted to do this afternoon was:SUP. Both.
The planks were ready and there went the apples of our eye. While we were sitting on the terrace of the Porter house, we saw our children stay upright on the SUP boards.
To introduce the children to the other water sports, they had to leave the SUP boards behind for a while. They sailed in a RIB of the rescue brigade during our day 'welcome on the water'. RIB stands for Rigid Inflatable Boat. In other words, a rubber boat with a solid hull. This was really greasy. They sailed out of the harbor for a bit, ripped through the bends and went really fast. Another highlight was rolling over the water in a ball. Hilarious.
While we wanted to get the kids excited about canoeing or dinghy sailing, the kids were only interested in one thing:SUP. They also really shouted something for me. I actually thought this was super fun too. However, the pick-up location was not chosen very tactically. Right in front of the full terrace. Well, I don't have the natural gift for charmingly stepping on any watercraft, so I just waved it off. A boat, air mattress or surfboard. When I step on such a thing, it just never goes right the first time.
Still, it started to itch. It is now or never. When the kids came to ask me again, I put on my naughty surf shoes! The boarding went quite well. Carefully I plopped on my buttocks on my son's shelf. As if it were no effort, son stands up and paddles to his sister, who maneuvers very skillfully between the other suppers. They are paddling out of sight of the terrace while I'm still sitting comfortably on my buttocks. Out of sight of the Gooi population, I seize my chance. Waddling a bit, I get up and grab the paddle. I stand! And not fallen.
It's really a lot of fun! Quite difficult, but delicious. Be active, on the water in the sun. A great combination. I don't say it out loud. Because now I regret that the supboard had to be sent back to me. Because such a board is not only great for sports. It is also ideal for sunbathing!
We enjoyed a lovely afternoon on the water. The HISWA association is right. A few hours on the water immediately gives you a holiday feeling. And with such a beautiful summer like this, we feel very welcome on the water.
Do you also want to introduce your children to water sports, check the site www.welkomophetwater.nl for the possibilities in your area.
