Dutch (Re) Treat

Here’s an interesting story about the annual Dutch cold dive into the North Sea from Breitbart.

Thousands of Dutch people stripped Thursday to brave near-freezing temperatures for a heart-stopping North Sea plunge that has become an annual New Year’s ritual.

After a countdown from 20, hordes of white, sun-starved bodies in bikinis and bathing trunks raced along the Scheveningen beach in The Hague around lunchtime for a shocking, mostly brief, splash in the waves.

Afterwards, they flocked in droves to nearby tents where they were treated to a mug of traditionally Dutch pea soup.

“It was very, very cold — but refreshing” said 19-year-old Jorik Spruijt, his teeth chattering as he emerged from the sea and rushed to pull on dry clothes.

“It’s a nice, crazy think to do with your friends. Being normal is just boring.”

The sea temperature, measured at six degrees Celsius, was about four degrees higher than on land.

“I do it for the kick!” 65-year-old James van den Berg told AFP after completing his 20th New Year’s dive.

That provides the answer to the question, “What other thing besides approaching German armies will cause Dutch testicles to disappear?”

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