STORY: Dutch people dip in icy water to welcome New Year
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 1, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 2, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:33
LOCATION: BLOEMENDAAL, the Netherlands
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the event
2. various of participants 
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DANIEL, Participant 
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MAGICA, Participant 

STORYLINE:

Hundreds of Dutch people dashed into the icy North Sea in the coastal city of Bloemendaal on Monday morning to celebrate the New Year.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DANIEL, Participant 
"It's a great start of the New Year."

On the same day, thousands in other places across the Netherlands took part in similar events, jumping into the sea or a lake to welcome the New Year.
   
The Dutch tradition started in the coastal city of Zandvoort in 1960, when a swimming club decided to start the year fresh with a plunge into the sea. Nowadays, similar events are organized in dozens of locations across the country.
   
After the exhilarating dip, participants emerged from the water, shivering but with smiles on their faces.
   
They wrapped themselves in warm towels and headed towards a cup of hot soup or chocolate.
   
After finishing her dip in Bloemendaal, Magica, a local resident, told Xinhua that she has engaged in the cold dip nearly every year over the past two decades.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MAGICA, Participant 
"It's tingling for my body, but very nice."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Bloemendaal, the Netherlands.
(XHTV)