What you need for an Elfstedenzwemtocht

An Elfstedenzwemtocht needs more than swim caps and medals. You need clearly marked swim lanes, reliable safety equipment, timing supplies, changing facilities and a way to keep volunteers connected across the route. Check every item against the number of swimmers, the course length and the number of safety stations. Buy or reserve critical equipment early, especially life boats, paddle boards, walkie-talkies and a generator.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 4
Foldable tablesqty 12
Folding chairsqty 40
Changing room benchesqty 8
Clothes racksqty 6
Crowd control barriersqty 30
Waste binsqty 12

Sports equipment

Life ringsqty 12
Rescue linesqty 12
Route buoysqty 24
Lane ropesqty 6
Paddle boardsqty 4
Life boatsqty 4
Paddlesqty 8
Life jacketsqty 12
Wetsuitsqty 8
Swim capsqty 120
Bib numbersqty 120
Medal ribbonsqty 120
Finish timer
Stopwatchesqty 8
Countdown clickersqty 8
Water thermometersqty 3
Measuring tapesqty 3

Equipment

Walkie-talkiesqty 16
Walkie-talkie headsetsqty 16
Mobile chargersqty 8
Generator
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6
PA system
Microphonesqty 2
Megaphonesqty 4

Lighting

Work lightsqty 8
String lightsqty 6
Headlampsqty 12

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 180
Platesqty 120
Cutlery setsqty 120
Coffee potsqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 8

Kitchen

Coolersqty 12
Ice containersqty 6
Serving jugsqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef and serving knivesqty 8
Serving tongsqty 12
Thermos cupsqty 40
Water boilersqty 3
Handwash sinksqty 4
Towelsqty 24

Cleaning

Mop setsqty 4
Broom setsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 6
Cleaning spongesqty 12
Cleaning sprayqty 6
Rubber glovesqty 12
Litter pickersqty 6

Decorations

Route signsqty 24
Directional signsqty 16
Start and finish bannersqty 2
Flagsqty 20
Chalkboardsqty 4
Waterproof markersqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Spa Blauw - 240 bottles
- Spa Red - 48 bottles
- Cola - 24 bottles
- Coke Zero - 24 bottles
- Sinas - 18 bottles
- Ice tea - 18 bottles
- Apple juice - 12 liters
- Orange juice - 12 liters
- Lemon sports drink - 120 bottles
- Red berry sports drink - 120 bottles
- Coffee - 8 packs
- Decaffeinated coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Hot chocolate - 8 liters
- Semi-skimmed milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Sweeteners - 2 boxes
- Lemon slices - 4 kilos
- Bananas - 12 kilo
- Apples - 12 kilos
- Mandarins - 8 kilos
- Grapes - 8 kilos
- Muesli bars - 240 pieces
- Energy bars - 180 pieces
- Currant buns - 120 pieces
- Whole wheat bread rolls - 120 pieces
- White buns - 80 pieces
- Wholegrain wraps - 60 pieces
- Young cheese - 4 kilos
- Hummus - 3 kilos
- Chicken breast topping - 3 kilos
- Lettuce - 12 heads
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 8 kilo
- Butter - 2 kilos
- Jam - 4 jars
- Peanut butter - 4 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Snacks - 8 bags
- Cookies - 12 packs
- Gluten-free crackers - 6 packs
- Vegan toppings - 6 packages
- Low-allergen bars - 60 pieces
- Ice cubes - 40 kilos
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Napkins - 600 pieces
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Hand soap - 6 dispensers
- Hand sanitizer - 8 bottles
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Liquid dish soap - 4 bottles
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Freezer bags - 4 boxes

Tips

Plan one clearly identified safety position for each section of the course, then match the number of life boats, paddle boards, rescue lines and life rings to that plan. Do not leave this equipment until the final shopping round.
Prepare at least one swim cap and bib number per participant, plus a small reserve for lost or damaged items. Sort bib numbers before registration opens so check-in does not become a bottleneck.
Set up changing areas with benches and clothes racks before swimmers arrive. Add party tents if participants need shelter while changing or waiting at the start and finish.
Test the finish timer, stopwatches, countdown clickers and water thermometers before race day. Bring mobile chargers, extension cords and power strips, and use a generator if the venue cannot guarantee power.
Place waste bins at the start, finish and busy route points, and keep crowd control barriers ready for the finish area. Pack route buoys, lane ropes and measuring tapes together so the course team can mark the lanes in one setup.

Frequently asked questions

What safety equipment do I need for an Elfstedenzwemtocht?: At minimum, plan the safety setup around the route and the number of swimmers: life rings, rescue lines, paddle boards, life boats and life jackets. Confirm the final quantities in the water safety plan and reserve them several weeks before the event.
How many swim caps and bib numbers should I buy?: Buy one swim cap and one bib number for every registered participant, plus a reserve of about 5–10% for replacements. Finalise the order after registration closes and check the participant list before sorting them.
What timing equipment is needed for the swim?: Use a finish timer, stopwatches and countdown clickers, with at least one backup stopwatch. Test all timing equipment no later than the day before the swim and bring charged mobile devices for recording results.
When should I arrange power and communication equipment?: Reserve walkie-talkies, headsets, chargers, extension cords and power strips at least two weeks ahead. Test the complete communication and power setup during the course inspection, and arrange a generator if reliable mains power is not available.

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