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LakeQuality

Lakes in Netherlands

Find lakes in Netherlands: 587 designated lake bathing waters classified under the EU Bathing Water Directive. 414 are rated Excellent for 2025.

The same country also has official phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and Secchi for 5 named lakes, sampled 2025. Those are nutrient and clarity readings, a different measurement from the Directive's bacteria class.

Updated 2025

Excellent: 414Good: 96Sufficient: 42Poor: 26Not classified: 9

Lake map

Map shows 592 lakes with coordinates

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Best-rated lakes to swim in Netherlands

Officially classified Excellent for the 2025 bathing season, ranked by how often that class has held. Full best-lakes list →

  1. 'T HoefsvenExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  2. 'T Nije HemelriekExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  3. 'T VeenmeerExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  4. 'T WedExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  5. 'T WitvenExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  6. 'T ZandExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  7. 'T Zand MiddenstrandExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  8. 'T Zwarte PlasjeExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  9. `t LoomeerExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  10. AlmeerderstrandExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  11. AquabestExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  12. BaggelhuizenExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  13. Beekse Bergen Zone 2Excellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  14. Beldert BeachExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons
  15. Berkendonk Helmond, 120m van StrandwachthuisExcellent · Excellent 11/11 seasons

Every rated bathing water in Netherlands

Places in Netherlands

Named lakes

LakePlaceTotal phosphorusChlorophyll-aSecchiYear
DrontermeerFlevoland49 µg/L14 µg/L0.6 m2025
EemmeerUtrecht150 µg/L3.6 µg/L1.2 m2025
IjsselmeerFlevoland62 µg/L28 µg/L0.6 m2025
MarkermeerFlevoland22 µg/L16 µg/L0.5 m2025
VeluwemeerGelderland16 µg/L6.7 µg/L1.2 m2025

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Frequently asked questions

Which lakes in Netherlands are best to swim in?
414 of 587 designated bathing waters in Netherlands are rated Excellent for 2025 under the EU Bathing Water Directive. That class measures E. coli and intestinal enterococci only — it is not a safety clearance.
Is it safe to swim in Netherlands lakes?
The official class is a bacteriological rating, not a safety clearance. It does not cover algal blooms, nutrients, water clarity, currents, or depth. Conditions change after heavy rain. Check local signage and the operator's current notices before entering the water.
How is lake water quality measured in Netherlands?
5 named lakes in Netherlands have official phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and Secchi from Rijkswaterstaat, 2025. These are the authority's own measurements, shown as reported.
Whose ratings do the Netherlands lake pages show?
The publishing authority's own. Pages for lakes in Netherlands show the values and classes that authority reports, with the season or year each was taken.

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Excellent-rated bathing waters

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Where to stay near Netherlands

Lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Netherlands — live availability from Booking.com, Vrbo and Expedia.

Top-rated places to stay near Netherlands

Prices for Sep 25–27, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

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Source: European Environment Agency (EEA), Bathing Water Directive. CC-BY 4.0.

Official surface phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, and/or Secchi. Published as the authority reports it on this scale.

Monitoring: Rijkswaterstaat.