Hondenplons

On the very last day of the summer season, open-air pools open their gates to dogs. Each pool has a slightly different date but it is always on a weekend. This is a really fun event, with you participating in the action if you want to or (more to the point) if it is still warm enough! This is not just limited to Haarlem, as far as I know it occurs all over the Netherlands.

We go to the Houtvaart here in Haarlem where you can buy tickets online. Prices vary from what time you want to arrive, i.e, if you want to go earlier before the large crowds arrive then it is a couple of Euros more. Potentially you can also buy tickets at the gate but I think there is a limit to how many dogs can go in.

Of course if that date does not work for you then check out other participating swimming pools – just enter “Hondenplons” in your search engine.

So there is a fairly large gathering of dogs there, so of course this is only fun if your dog is nice and social. Oh and if you bring a toy, make sure that it floats before you throw it in the deep end. Don’t ask…