It is 8:30 am: the bathrobes are off and the orange buoys are on. The Power women, the Abcoudermeer swimmers, the Angstelhelden and other swimmers have gathered on the south side of the Abcoudermeer. Two long-distance swimmers don their wetsuits, the rest brave the cold water in bathing suits. They step into the water via a few pallets and planks. “Nice scaffolding”, an elderly lady calls out, who lets herself fall backwards, hanging from the edge. “A bit provisional! The previous one was better,” they recall from the side.