What are the swimming diplomas?

In the Netherlands, the national standard for swimming safety is known as the ABC-Diploma program. This system is designed to take children from their first splashes to being fully “swim-safe” in various water conditions.

Here is the breakdown of the diplomas as offered by the Dutch Dolphin Swimming Club:

A-Diploma

This is the foundation where children learn basic survival skills and the primary swimming strokes.

B-Diploma

Focuses on increasing stamina and proficiency, ensuring the child can swim longer distances and handle more challenging water situations.

C-Diploma

This is the final step to being considered fully "swim-safe." Once a child earns their C-diploma, they are deemed capable of moving freely and safely in and around the water. With this diploma you meet the National Standard for Swimming Safety, as drawn up by the NRZ.

Beyond the C-Diploma

After completing the core ABC program, children don’t have to stop swimming. At the Dutch Dolphin Swimming Club, we offer a special transition to sports where children can:

Continue swimming to discover water sports.
Practice two different sports in our Kids Club class (30 minutes dedicated to each discipline).
Join a team and dive into competitive swimming, water polo, diving, or synchronized swimming to master your skills.

what is kids club?

The Dutch Dolphin Kids Club is a specialized program designed for children who have already obtained their C-Diploma. It serves as a transition from standard lessons to a more diverse and athletic swimming experience.

What makes the Kids Club unique?

Two disciplines. One hour. 30 minutes each.

competitive swimming

In competitive swimming, the goal is to swim as fast as possible. It is important to swim with a good technique , you also have to be able to start and turn quickly.

Attention is therefore paid to the technique of the various strokes, including the butterfly stroke, and the children learn how to start and turn as quickly as possible.

water polo

In water polo the emphasis is on playing together. It is important to be able to swim and throw well, but without teamwork it will be difficult to score.

diving

Diving is all about jumping into the water as beautifully as possible and without too much splashing.

During classes, children learn the basic skills of diving and learn to jump responsibly from the 1 and 3-meter boards.

Synchronized Swimming

In synchronized swimming you learn to do tricks in the water, how to move by making only small movements with your arms and that everything has to be synchronized with your friends.

Survival swimming

In swimming lessons, children learn the basic skills to save themselves, such as floating on an aid or climbing over a mat.

In survival swimming they go one step further, the children learn to breathe under a boat and float on their own pants. This way your child can save himself even better in the water.

Rescue swimming

In swimming rescue you learn how to help others in the water in a responsible way. The emergency doll and the transport of a drowning person are part of this.

In addition, you also learn to free yourself in case someone hangs around your neck.

Our teaching methodology

Beyond the vitality of knowing how to swim, swimming can also be a potential career path for young people who may develop an interest in water sports. This is the focus of Dutch Dolphin Swimming Club: to teach swimming through various guided approaches, making the experience enjoyable and incorporating innovative teaching methods.

EASYSWIM

Learning to swim should be fun, engaging, and child-centered. EasySwim encourages curiosity and independence, helping kids learn through experience.

With innovative methods like deep-water teaching, the EasySwim Pro suit, and experiential learning tools, we help every child reach their full potential.

1. Deeper Water

To optimise propulsion and resistance experiences, we consciously choose to swim in deeper water. This environment naturally improves the 'feel for water', involving almost all parts of the body, including the soles of the feet, which are crucial for propulsion in breaststroke and backstroke.

2. EasySwim Pro

The EasySwim Pro is the ideal and safest flotation device for children learning to swim in deeper water. This flotation suit has floats placed high on the back and chest, minimising disruption to the natural position and maximising arm movement.

3. Groups

To provide maximum individual learning support, create a high level of activity and increase engagement, we work in groups with short practice material blocks in each lesson.

4. Meaningful Practice and Goals

Practice material and objectives should be as meaningful as possible for children. Instructors create a rich learning environment during swimming lessons by starting from the child's perspective and creatively using a variety of materials and challenging practice activities.

Our history and mission

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Dutch Dolphin was founded out of love for swimming. We believe it should be fun, not a chore. Swimming is healthy, exciting and something every child should enjoy.

We also believe in swimming for life. Whether children move on to competitive swimming, water polo, synchronized swimming, or diving, we aim to inspire them to keep swimming.

InnoSportLab de Tongelreep began 10 years ago with a small team and a few cameras. Today, it operates in a high-tech pool with over 25 underwater cameras, advanced measurement tools, and a permanent team of staff and interns.

By combining sports, science, and business, the lab has built a unique, cutting-edge infrastructure that leads innovation in the swimming world.

Since 1942, PSV Zwemsporten has grown into one of the largest swimming clubs in the Netherlands, with athletes competing nationally and internationally.

We’re proud to collaborate with this historic club — home to champions like Pieter van den Hoogenband and Ranomi Kromowidjojo — to connect swimming lessons with real sports experience. From diving to water polo, kids learn best from the experts themselves.

Our mission is to provide high-quality swimming lessons that help children swim safely and confidently in any environment.

We also aim to spark a love for swimming and make it easy for kids to transition into competitive sports encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle beyond their swimming diplomas.

We are a fun, professional, and forward-thinking swimming school. Our qualified instructors carefully design each lesson to be both effective and enjoyable.

We embrace innovation and support ongoing research into modern, child-friendly teaching methods.

Our goal is to make every lesson lighthearted and fun, while still achieving important learning