Amber Badam (43) was born in India, but has lived in The Netherlands for fifteen years. He never took swimming lessons in his mother country. He never got around to it in The Netherlands either, until he found that on holiday in Croatia with his family last year, he was afraid to join his swimming children. That’s when he decided to take swimming lessons in the Ir. Ottenbad in Eindhoven..
He is not the only adult to start swimming lessons. The waiting list in Eindhoven has grown to twelve months, despite two municipal pools offering 26 adult classes each week.
Amber explains how he learned to swim India: ”Friends just showed me the moves so I could sort of swim, but I had no technique.” That’s how most children in India learn to swim, he says.
Fifteen years ago work brought Amber to The Nerherlands. He speaks Dutch and his children were born here. They got their swimming certificates. “Last year we were in Croatia. My children and my friends swam in the sea, but I was afraid. I did not dare to swim in open water”. He does want to be able to join his family, so the time had come for proper swimming lessons.
For the past nine months he joined the other adults in the Ir. Ottenbad in Eindhoven. “It does not embarrass me”, he says. The culture here is different. The Nerherlands is a land of water. Everyone here takes swimming lessons and everyone can swim”. n
The beginners pool is normally for four-year-olds. Amber also started in this pool. “Everyone in my class is roughly my age. They are all internationals who are eager to learn. It gives me drive.”
Education
Just like Amber, many adults in Eindhoven want to join swimming classes. “In Eindhoven the demand is extremely high”, says Ottenbad coordinator Marc Schalks. “Most are true beginners. Many are afraid, and need a bit longer”.
Eighty per cent of the adult learners are from abroad. Most are expats. Their children take swimming lessons. Then the parents want to learn, too. They want to play together with their children”.
Cities such as Breda, Den Bosch and Tilburg offer only occasional classed for adults. Eindhoven offers 26 lessons for nearly 400 adults. The actual number is even higher as there are also swimming clubs offering adult classes.
Schalks says the majority of learners are from India. In India they never got around to it. “Here more swimming classes are offered at affordable rates. Here it’s part of one’s education.”
Anxiety
A class consist of 15 adults. The A certificate takes them 18 to 24 months, just like the children. “When you are a bit older and anxious, it can take longer, perhaps as long as three years. I do have some learners in my classes who require a lot of patience, but they are immensely grateful when they overcome their fear and learn to swim”.
Special occasion
The certificate session is always a special occasion. “We invite the family members to come and watch. We celebrate with coffee and cake. It makes me proud to see what they have achieved. It takes a lot of courage for some people to join a group of strangers wearing swimming trunks or bathing costumes.”
Amber is happy with the lessons he’s had so far. His confidence is growing. “Next time I’m on holiday I can join the family in the water knowing I can really swim”.
