After Zwemdiploma A, children at Merwestein carry on building their swimming skills towards the official Zwemdiploma B.
The focus now shifts more towards surviving in the water. We keep refining the swimming strokes and you learn new skills. We also make sure that you can swim a longer distance with ease.
According to the guidelines of the Nationale Zwem-ABC, you then master the skills needed for a swimming pool with attractions, such as a (rapids) slide, a wave pool and/or a current channel.
To be allowed to sit the assessment for the Nationaal Zwemdiploma B, you need to have a good command of several elements:
Orientation under water
Endurance swimming
Front crawl and back crawl
Feeling at ease in the water
Orientating and moving about above water
To take swimming lessons for Zwemdiploma B, you need to hold Zwemdiploma A. Do not have it yet? Take a look at our page Zwemdiploma A. Already have Zwemdiploma B and would you like to carry on with swimming lessons? Take a look at our page for Zwemdiploma C.
In some situations a trial lesson is needed before swimming lessons can start. This applies, for example, when a child moves over from another swimming pool. During the trial lesson we establish their current swimming level and look at where extra attention is needed.
A trial lesson takes place outside the regular lessons and is given individually or in a small group. Please get in touch by email to arrange one.
You can register for swimming lessons online using the tickets button. Registration fees apply. Once we have received your registration, we will contact you to confirm it.
It is not always possible to start swimming lessons straight away. In that case the registration is placed on a waiting list. How long the wait is depends on the lesson time you choose. Even when there is a waiting list, an appointment for a trial lesson can already be scheduled.
A swimming costume or swimming trunks and a towel are enough to get started. Later on we also practise with clothes on; the swimming instructor will let you know when. See the clothing requirements below.
When you fully meet all the requirements to sit the assessment for Zwemdiploma B, the swimming instructor will give you an assessment slip. These are the requirements:
With clothes on:
Enter the water backwards, then tread water for 15 seconds, followed by swimming 50 m, interrupted once by swimming underneath a floating object, and finish the test by climbing out of the water onto the side unaided.
In swimwear:
Dive in from the side, followed by swimming underwater (without surfacing) through a hole in a sheet hanging vertically in the water 6 m from the (starting) side.
25 m breaststroke, followed by 25 m elementary backstroke, followed by 25 m breaststroke, followed by 25 m elementary backstroke, followed by 25 m breaststroke, followed by 25 m elementary backstroke, interrupted twice by a half turn around the long axis of the body (from back to front and from front to back).
10 m front crawl and 10 m back crawl.
Jump into the water with a jump of your choice, then float on the back for 15 seconds, followed by moving 5 m head-first on the back, using the arms, towards a floating object, followed by 20 seconds of staying afloat with the help of a floating object.
Enter the water from the side with a jump of your choice, then tread water for 60 seconds while moving in several directions, using arms and legs, and finish the test by sinking feet-first towards the bottom once.
Before the lesson starts, please remember to give your child a plastic bag for their wet clothes.
Zwembad Merwestein is centrally located in Nieuwegein and is easy to reach by both public transport and car. From Utrecht, the tram runs towards the centre of Nieuwegein. Several bus routes also stop within walking distance of the pool. If you come by car, there is plenty of parking at the municipal car park.
Do also take a look at our rates and the frequently asked questions, or plan your route to Merwestein.
We have been teaching swimming for more than 30 years and work with experienced swimming instructors.
At Merwestein your child learns to swim in small groups, with the same instructors and a fixed lesson time. There are also lesson slots available on every day of the week.
Merwestein works towards the national ABC swimming certificates. These diplomas are issued by the Nationale Raad Zwemdiploma’s (NRZ). Would you like to know more about the requirements for Zwemdiploma B? You will find all the information and the assessment requirements on the NRZ website.
