Lanklaar (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Around 300 participants joined the New Year’s Dip at Terhills Resort, Lanklaar, enjoying a warm-up, icy lake plunge, and mini fashion show featuring a mermaid, with safety measures in place.
As HBVL News reported, around 300 people took part in the New Year’s Dip on Saturday, Dec 3, 2026, at Terhills Resort in Lanklaar, in the municipality of Dilsen-Stokkem, in the province of Limburg, Belgium. Participants came from across Limburg to plunge into the icy lake.
This was the 5th edition of the event and the first with a snow-covered beach. Organisers worked on Friday, Jan 2, 2026, to clear snow and spread grit on the access roads. The water temperature was 3°C, while the air was 2°C.
“We’re here for the first time,”
says Luc Koolen of the Rotem Motor Club.
“We brought this polar bear moment on ourselves because last year, a club member came here alone. ‘We’ll join in next year,’ we promised him. Well, here we are today with ten club members in green uniforms.”
What drew 300 participants, including Vince Dirckx, to Terhills New Year’s Dip?
Among the participants was 11-year-old Vince Dirckx from Rotem, who joined the warm-up session with his mother, Tine Neyens.
“We’re also going to turn it into a fashion show,”
Vince smiles.
“I’m the Lion King, and Mom is dressed as a mermaid.”
Safety measures were in place for the event. 7 certified safeguards monitored the participants in the cold water. Tom Van den Rul and Jonas Krols from Louwel joined hundreds of participants at Terhills Resort for the New Year’s Dip in the icy lake.
“It’s our first time outside, but at home I regularly take a cold shower,”
17-year-old says Jonas said.
Reinhilde Thewissen from Bilzen and Marielle Nelissen from Riemst stood in bathrobes ready for the plunge.
“It’s the first time for us too. The warm-up is fun, but necessary. Standing barefoot in the snow isn’t exactly everyday for us,”
the women say.
While swimmers warmed up, Lotte Winderickx from Zonhoven and Dorien Manshoven from Oost-Ham enjoyed glasses of sparkling wine under a parasol.
“That drink warms you up even more,”
the ladies add before diving into the water.
At 2 p.m., the presenter counted down from 10 to 1, and the polar bears entered the 3°C water. Most stayed in for about 30 seconds. 3 friends waited until the others left the lake before joining. After the icy dip, participants moved to the nearby tropical pool to warm up.
“Now we’re finally getting into the polar bears; at least we have a place,”
smiles Sander Carollo from Zolder.
“I was in the water for a minute,”
says Joe Verstraeten from Neeroeteren. Eric Maillard from Mechelen-aan-de-Maas:
“I jumped in twice. The first time for the adrenaline, and the second time for the thrill.”
Darren Jacobs from Maaseik:
“Well, our Eric got a pumice. He brought a hot water bottle from home. It’s really wonderful to get that water on your back after a polar bear dive. Too bad there wasn’t a drop left for Eric himself.”
New Year’s Dips have become a tradition in Limburg and in many other towns in Belgium. The 4th edition of New Year’s Dip took place on January 1, 2025, at Terhills Resort, Lanklaar, with an estimated 250 participants dipping in about 3°C icy water with lifeguards on standby.
Similar events took place in Hechtel-Eksel and Lanaken during 2024, where families joined together to participate in this cold-water swim.
