Hoornse Vaart Open Water Swim in the Hoornse Vaart swimming pool in Alkmaar

Open Water Alkmaar

The largest open water swimming event in the Netherlands!

On Sunday 28 June 2026, Alkmaar Sport, in collaboration with swimming clubs OEZA and DAW, is organising the 2nd Open Water Alkmaar. This spectacular event will take place in the beautiful surroundings of the Hoornsevaart in Alkmaar and offers both recreational distances and official KNZB competitions. Tickets for the recreational distances are available via the button below.

Practical information

  • Match date: Sunday 28 June 2026
  • Location: Beverdam 1, Alkmaar (near ARZV rowing club)
  • Organisation Open Water Swimming Foundation OEZA & Alkmaar Sport
  • Closing date for entries: Do you want to take part in Open Water Alkmaar? Then register online before Saturday 27 June 2026 at 18:00. You can also register on the day itself. To do this, come to our site at least 1 hour before the start time of your distance and report to the registration desk. Please note: Payments can only be made by card.
  • Registration recreational distances: Click the button below for your distance
  • Entry for official KNZB competitions: Via https://webkalender.knzb.nl/
  • ImportantFor the recreational distances, at least an A and B swimming certificate are required.

Fees & registration

  • Recreational distances (250 and 500 metres): Free
  • Recreational distances (1000, 2000 and 3000 metres): € 10,-
  • Official KNZB 1st distance races: £12 (incl. time tracking)
  • Next race distance (KNZB): € 5,-

For questions about the event, you can contact Max Delissen on telephone number 06-23766338 or by e-mail at zwemambassadeur@alkmaarsport.nl or with Hans Schoenmakers on telephone number 06-23153918 or by e-mail via OpenWaterAlkmaar@oeza.nl

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Recreational distances programme

Anyone without a competition licence from the KNZB or the NTB may take part in the programme below.

DistanceStart time
500-metre recreational distances11:15 am
250-metre leisure distances11:30 am
1000 metre recreational distancesbetween 13.40 and 14.00
2000 metre recreational distancesbetween 13.40 and 14.00
3,000 metre recreational distancesbetween 13.40 and 14.00

Schedule of official KNZB competitions (Competition licence required)

Participants may only take part in the programme below with a starting licence from the KNZB or the NTB.

DistanceStart time
2000 metre freestyle boys u14, u16, u18 & senior men10:00 am
2000 metre freestyle girls u14, u16, u18 & senior womenfive past ten
2000m breaststroke boys/girls u14, u16, u18 & senior men/womenten past ten
500 metre freestyle boys/girls u10 & u12 11:05
1000m freestyle u14, u16, u18 & senior men 12:00
1000m freestyle u14, u16, u18 & senior women 12:05
1000m freestyle Masters men 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+ & 80+ 12:10
1500 metre freestyle Masters women 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+ & 80+ 12:20
1000m breaststroke u14, u16, u18 & senior men/women14:55
1000m breaststroke men's Masters 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+ & 80+ 3.05 pm
1000m breaststroke Masters women 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+ & 80+ 3.10 pm
Knockout race 1500, 1000 & 500 metres men/women4:10 pm

Full programme and match information will follow on https://webkalender.knzb.nl/.


Important information Open Water Alkmaar

  • Leisure distances: Participants must be present at least 60 minutes before the start.
  • Minimum age: 250 metres = 6 years (up to 9 years with supervisor), 500 metres = 9 years, 1000/2000/3000 metres = 12 years.
  • Diploma For the recreational distances, at least an A and B swimming certificate are required.
  • Time tracking: For the recreational distances there is no official timekeeping. Would you like to keep track of your own time? Then you can do this with a sports watch, for example. The KNZB races are manually timed. Therefore, no electronic timekeeping is used.
  • KNZB swimming galas: Payment via https://webkalender.knzb.nl/ (no cash).
  • Horeca Clubhouse with coffee, tea and soft drinks at reasonable prices.
  • Parking: Large car park at VV Kolping Boys.
  • Public transport: Alkmaar Noord station is a 1,250-metre walk, or take bus 10 from Alkmaar station towards Oudorp/Nijenburg.

Take part in the largest open water swimming event in the Netherlands!