Meet Our Swim Coach
Meet Swim Coach Gijs
Nationality: Dutch
Living in The Netherlands since: Born and raised
Languages: Dutch, English & France
Pool location: Leiden
Profile:
Born and raised in the province of Zeeland, I am very aware of the importance of swimming. All my life, I’ve been passionate about survival skills, and swimming in general.
My career in the swimming business started as a lifeguard at a local pool. My experiences as a lifeguard have made me passionate about teaching people how to swim. The ability to swim gives you great freedom in a country like the Netherlands and is vital to your personal safety.
I study Public Administration and French Language and Culture, both at Leiden University.
Coaching style:
Swimming is fun, so swimming lessons should be fun too. With a personal and kind approach, I try to find out what works best for each individual. Humour is my greatest weapon making my lessons useful, and fun at the same time.
Specialties:
Being a coach in the Water Introduction Level, I’ve been successful in helping people overcome their fears, and dealing with lower floating capacities.
“Bend, spread, close.”
- ALL YOU NEED IS THE FIRST STEP, WE'L TAKE CARE OF THE REST! -
Our range of swimming classes for adults
Which class suits you best? Select from beginner to advanced swimming lessons. We offer classes suitable at different levels, from classes for beginners to classes for those who want to refine their technique and increase their stamina.
Water introduction
Difficulty: Beginner
Lessons range: 1 of 5
No swimming ability? Fear of water? Past lessons unsuccessful or a long time ago? Then it’s time to begin again — from the very start — with a water introduction at ground zero!
Perfect for absolute beginners or those with fear of water.
- Overcome fear of water
- Get comfortable in shallow water
- Learn to float and move freely
- Build basic water confidence
Stroke introduction
Difficulty: Beginner
Lessons range: 2 of 5
Comfortable in water, but not yet able to swim the four basic strokes? This level provides the right fit.
Requirements include: completion of the introduction level, or ability to swim back-crawl and backstroke (with froggy leg kick).
For those who are water-confident but don’t yet swim strokes.
- Learn the 4 basic strokes
- Improve breath control
- Build up stamina in shallow water
- Transition from water play to structured swimming
Intermediate
Difficulty: Intermediate
Lessons range: 3 of 5
Participation in this level requires the ability to swim comfortably in shallow water. Discomfort in deep water is acceptable.
Requirements include: knowledge of all four basic strokes.
You can swim in shallow water but still improving technique or confidence.
- Refine technique for all 4 strokes
- Improve efficiency and endurance
- Get more comfortable in deeper water
- Work on swimming longer distances without breaks
Advanced
Difficulty: Advanced
Lessons range: 4 of 5
No issues in deep water and able to swim more than 100 meters without exhaustion? This level is the perfect match. The goal: getting fitter and stronger through swimming as a weekly workout.
You swim 100m+ without stopping and want cardio & progress.
- Swim in deep water with full confidence
- Increase swimming stamina and speed
- Improve stroke power and breathing
- Prepare for diploma-event and/or sports-level training
Sports Class
Difficulty: Advanced
Lessons range: 5 of 5
Take swimming skills to the next level with the Sport Class! Designed for holders of official swim diplomas or advanced swimmers seeking new challenges — this class delivers focused, high-level training.
For advanced or diploma-level swimmers seeking challenge.
- Train like an athlete
- Learn interval and endurance sets
- Improve race technique and starts
- Build peak swimming fitness
Meet Our Swim Coach
Meet Swim Coach Gijs
Nationality: Dutch
Living in The Netherlands since: Born and raised
Languages: Dutch, English & France
Pool location: Leiden
Profile:
Born and raised in the province of Zeeland, I am very aware of the importance of swimming. All my life, I’ve been passionate about survival skills, and swimming in general.
My career in the swimming business started as a lifeguard at a local pool. My experiences as a lifeguard have made me passionate about teaching people how to swim. The ability to swim gives you great freedom in a country like the Netherlands and is vital to your personal safety.
I study Public Administration and French Language and Culture, both at Leiden University.
Coaching style:
Swimming is fun, so swimming lessons should be fun too. With a personal and kind approach, I try to find out what works best for each individual. Humour is my greatest weapon making my lessons useful, and fun at the same time.
Specialties:
Being a coach in the Water Introduction Level, I’ve been successful in helping people overcome their fears, and dealing with lower floating capacities.
“Bend, spread, close.”
- ALL YOU NEED IS THE FIRST STEP, WE'L TAKE CARE OF THE REST! -
Our range of
swimming classes
for adults
Which class suits you best? Select from beginner to advanced swimming lessons. We offer classes suitable at different levels, from classes for beginners to classes for those who want to refine their technique and increase their stamina.
Water introduction
Difficulty: Beginner
Lessons range: 1 of 5
No swimming ability? Fear of water? Past lessons unsuccessful or a long time ago? Then it’s time to begin again — from the very start — with a water introduction at ground zero!
Perfect for absolute beginners or those with fear of water.
- Overcome fear of water
- Get comfortable in shallow water
- Learn to float and move freely
- Build basic water confidence
Stroke introduction
Difficulty: Beginner
Lessons range: 2 of 5
Comfortable in water, but not yet able to swim the four basic strokes? This level provides the right fit.
Requirements include: completion of the introduction level, or ability to swim back-crawl and backstroke (with froggy leg kick).
For those who are water-confident but don’t yet swim strokes.
- Learn the 4 basic strokes
- Improve breath control
- Build up stamina in shallow water
- Transition from water play to structured swimming
Intermediate
Difficulty: Intermediate
Lessons range: 3 of 5
Participation in this level requires the ability to swim comfortably in shallow water. Discomfort in deep water is acceptable.
Requirements include: knowledge of all four basic strokes.
You can swim in shallow water but still improving technique or confidence.
- Refine technique for all 4 strokes
- Improve efficiency and endurance
- Get more comfortable in deeper water
- Work on swimming longer distances without breaks
Advanced
Difficulty: Advanced
Lessons range: 4 of 5
No issues in deep water and able to swim more than 100 meters without exhaustion? This level is the perfect match. The goal: getting fitter and stronger through swimming as a weekly workout.
You swim 100m+ without stopping and want cardio & progress.
- Swim in deep water with full confidence
- Increase swimming stamina and speed
- Improve stroke power and breathing
- Prepare for diploma-event and/or sports-level training
Sports Class
Difficulty: Advanced
Lessons range: 5 of 5
Take swimming skills to the next level with the Sport Class! Designed for holders of official swim diplomas or advanced swimmers seeking new challenges — this class delivers focused, high-level training.
For advanced or diploma-level swimmers seeking challenge.
- Train like an athlete
- Learn interval and endurance sets
- Improve race technique and starts
- Build peak swimming fitness
Meet Our Swim Coach
Meet Swim Coach Gijs
Nationality: Dutch
Living in The Netherlands since: Born and raised
Languages: Dutch, English & France
Pool location: Leiden
Profile:
Born and raised in the province of Zeeland, I am very aware of the importance of swimming. All my life, I’ve been passionate about survival skills, and swimming in general.
My career in the swimming business started as a lifeguard at a local pool. My experiences as a lifeguard have made me passionate about teaching people how to swim. The ability to swim gives you great freedom in a country like the Netherlands and is vital to your personal safety.
I study Public Administration and French Language and Culture, both at Leiden University.
Coaching style:
Swimming is fun, so swimming lessons should be fun too. With a personal and kind approach, I try to find out what works best for each individual. Humour is my greatest weapon making my lessons useful, and fun at the same time.
Specialties:
Being a coach in the Water Introduction Level, I’ve been successful in helping people overcome their fears, and dealing with lower floating capacities.
“Bend, spread, close.”
- ALL YOU NEED IS THE FIRST STEP, WE'L TAKE CARE OF THE REST! -
Our range of swimming classes for adults
Which class suits you best?
Select from beginner to advanced swimming lessons. We offer classes suitable at different levels, from classes for beginners to classes for those who want to refine their technique and increase their stamina.
Water introduction
Difficulty: Beginner
Lessons range: 1 of 5
No swimming ability? Fear of water? Past lessons unsuccessful or a long time ago? Then it’s time to begin again — from the very start — with a water introduction at ground zero!
Perfect for absolute beginners or those with fear of water.
- Overcome fear of water
- Get comfortable in shallow water
- Learn to float and move freely
- Build basic water confidence
Stroke introduction
Difficulty: Beginner
Lessons range: 2 of 5
Comfortable in water, but not yet able to swim the four basic strokes? This level provides the right fit.
Requirements include: completion of the introduction level, or ability to swim back-crawl and backstroke (with froggy leg kick).
For those who are water-confident but don’t yet swim strokes.
- Learn the 4 basic strokes
- Improve breath control
- Build up stamina in shallow water
- Transition from water play to structured swimming
Intermediate
Difficulty: Intermediate
Lessons range: 3 of 5
Participation in this level requires the ability to swim comfortably in shallow water. Discomfort in deep water is acceptable.
Requirements include: knowledge of all four basic strokes.
You can swim in shallow water but still improving technique or confidence.
- Refine technique for all 4 strokes
- Improve efficiency and endurance
- Get more comfortable in deeper water
- Work on swimming longer distances without breaks
Advanced
Difficulty: Advanced
Lessons range: 4 of 5
No issues in deep water and able to swim more than 100 meters without exhaustion? This level is the perfect match. The goal: getting fitter and stronger through swimming as a weekly workout.
You swim 100m+ without stopping and want cardio & progress.
- Swim in deep water with full confidence
- Increase swimming stamina and speed
- Improve stroke power and breathing
- Prepare for diploma-event and/or sports-level training
Sports Class
Difficulty: Advanced
Lessons range: 5 of 5
Take swimming skills to the next level with the Sport Class! Designed for holders of official swim diplomas or advanced swimmers seeking new challenges — this class delivers focused, high-level training.
For advanced or diploma-level swimmers seeking challenge.
- Train like an athlete
- Learn interval and endurance sets
- Improve race technique and starts
- Build peak swimming fitness
