Het Sloterparkbad

This is a good pool with modern lane ropes and clean facilities. The entire pool was divided into seven lanes (one double-wide for slow swimmers) for morning lane swimming (banenzwemmen), on a Saturday morning, and it was very crowded, with almost 50 people in the pool. For the most part, people were swimming in appropriate lanes, but it was impossible to pass, except when other swimmers courteously allowed it at the end of the lane. A wrist pass activates the lockers.

I returned the following day (Sunday). The pool was twice as crowded as during my first visit - unbelievably so. I gave up trying to swim after 1 km. of mainly breaststroke and did a head count. I counted 92 people in the pool! I don’t remember ever trying to do lengths in a pool so crowded, even going back to swim camps, as a kid. Oh well, I still enjoyed myself. Maybe that’s why it’s so cheap; you can only get in ½ a swim.

This is a relatively new facility where the 50-meter, competition pool is often split into two 25-meter sections. For lap swimming time slots check the pool website's Openingstijden (schedule) page. Lap etiquette is observed and lanes are clearly marked. Overall, I would give this pool a 9 out of 10.

I went lane swimming (banenzwemmen) here on a Sunday in April. Seven lanes were available for lane swimming from 10 AM to noon, as opposed to four from 9 to 10 AM. It was still four lanes when I decided I had had enough at 10:45. There were 10 people in my lane, no lane discipline whatsoever, no backstroke flags, poor quality lane ropes causing too many waves from other lanes, and no separate men's and women's bathing facilities - meaning no proper washing before entering pool. I cannot recommend this place at all.

I'm not sure I'd say it's that beautiful, and it's certainly not the best I have ever seen, far from it. It is functional, well-equipped, busy, and reasonably priced facility. I found the water a bit dirty with a few "hairballs" floating in the water; it's certainly not one of my top- or even mid-rated pools. It's a bit awkward to get to - use the public transport.

The pool was quite crowded. I swam in the least crowded lane and never had to share with more than one person. Most lanes were occupied by rec. swimmers doing breaststroke. Pace clocks were on both sides, digital, and easily visible. The pool is beautiful and one of the best you will ever see.