WE RAN NAKED INTO THE COLD SEA (de blote nieuwjaarsduik 2024)

In this episode, Michelle and Alex take on the 2024 "de Blote Nieuwjaarsduik" or the Naked New Year's Dive, a naturist version of the popular annual Dutch tradition of the New Year's Dive.
Gelukkig nieuwjaar! 🎉
Oh, and watch last year's dive video here: • DIVING INTO THE COLD S...
Episode 112 · Filmed on January 1, 2024 · Den Haag (Westduinpark), the Netherlands
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0:00 Introduction
0:30 A flashback to the last episode...
0:36 Where are we going?
0:48 What is the New Years Dive?
1:17 What did we pack?
1:40 Tell me more about the dive...
2:51 Why a naked New Years Dive?
3:24 Our expectations for today...
4:13 We took cold showers
4:53 The dive! (part 1)
5:58 The dive! (part 2)
6:35 The dive! (part 3)
7:05 The dive! (part 4)
7:43 The dive! (part 5)
8:49 The dive! (part 6)
9:12 Would we do it again?
9:24 Gelukkig nieuwjaar! (and wrap up)
#netherlands #expatlife #nieuwjaarsduik #polarplunge
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WHO IS BUNCHARTED?
We're Michelle and Alex, an American expat couple living abroad in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱
In 2020, we quit our jobs to travel the world, and... well, that didn't happen. So in 2022, we decided to make an even BIGGER change: to pack up our lives (and our cats 🐈) and move from Austin, Texas, in the United States, to the Netherlands. Subscribe for new videos like this every week!

[@EricvanDorp007]

Sometimes I stumble on one of your uploads, but I never react and even sometimes forget to like, but this one is "Respect", even I as a 100% Dutchman has never done the new year's dive. So I already enjoyed the first part with a big smile. Thank you for making me happy just by seeing people from outside doing our traditions... We live in a beautiful country.

[@RivMark643]

This was our first New Year in the Netherlands and I really wanted to do the dive. In the end, my partner didn’t want to and I wasn’t feeling like doing alone. This year. Next year, I plan to do it with or without him!

[@buddy1155]

Just tell him 'the internet' thinks he is a pussy.

[@H1SCOTTY]

Just do it, if you’re in the water there’s no cold, coming out you’re getting a kick because you’re body is shifted to survival mode and get a boost of energy and warmth which disappears after five to ten minutes. Before and after this the cold sets in and you need to get to your warm car / changing tent or cafe in our case.

[@RivMark643]

@@H1SCOTTY it wasn’t fear of the dive but rather dragging my butt out of bed after a late night without us motivating each other to get up. Lol

[@samuelgilbert9734]

About 10 years ago, I went to a spa in Québec in winter. I don't remember the outside temperature, but it was certainly below freezing. After a hot sauna, I did my cold crash in a fast flowing river. There was ice everywhere except the on the upstream waterfall and in the area cleared by the spa's staff. I was planning to do a quick dip, but I lost a sandal and had to dive a few times to retrieve it.That was the coldest I ever felt in my life!

[@umbertoyltp]

The ecstacy of being glad it's over is the greatest reward for such a brave act❤❤

[@CakeboyRiP]

De beste wensen voor dit nieuwe jaar! Respect dat jullie alweer een nieuwjaarsduik gedaan hebben

[@lennartvers1767]

Beste wensen and have a wonderful 2024!

[@Why-D]

Seems, you found a new tradition! Happy New Year!

[@mennobults6464]

Naked feels like more fun, little uncomfortable. Geweldig nieuwjaar voor jullie beiden. Great tradition, when here go for it.

[@royklein9206]

Great one to start of the year guys!!

[@valeryklumper]

De beste wensen voor 2024! (Happy New year!)

[@vanderquast]

Respekt 👏👍😊gelukkig nieuwjaar! 🥂🍾

[@bastonor]

Well done, guys! Happy new year!

[@rowenacandyengracial4526]

Nice seeing you again...Happy New Year Buncharted☺️🎉🎉

[@johnalvanvugt58]

All the best for 2024. Keep up making your great vlogs!!😊

[@gusknip]

I remember doing the sponsored one in Scheveningen 20 or so years ago, when the air was like 3C and the water actually felt nice and warm at 9 or 10C. 🙂 But I bet the wind now was the worst part of it all. Ik wens jullie een uitstekend jaar vol geluk, gezondheid en gezelligheid!

[@2coixos]

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar !! I have never done the the nieuwjaarsduik for the tradition of me and my friends on oud/nieuw is to dance the whole night up to the afternoon of new years day. But I have spend lots of summers working as a lifeguard on the Dutch coast, I was a member of the Reddings brigade for 15 years.

[@claudiazaatable]

Ik wens jullie een gezond 2024 ! 🎉 The naked one is an extra challenge! And welcome to our Dutch traditons 😊

[@etienneE]

You guys are awesome 😁

[@jeroencote5212]

Happy new year guys/Gelukkig nieuwjaar!!!

[@Paul_C]

What I remember from the 5 years I did that the only one that stood out was 2017 and my last one. Several reasons for that year: it was a dive off a boat. So entry was instant, and full body immersion. I actually thought I'd die. Then it was swimming, climb a ladder, and down to the nearest shower. Later that day the sauna was heaven, including the ice cold bath and subsequent drying off and warmth. 😂

[@buncharted]

i’d be worried i’d drown 😂😂😂

[@snroos1860]

I hope you did do this with life guards. This is dangerous! Keep your head out of the cold water!

[@jljvdm]

Great. Very inspiring en funny. Thanks a lot. We wish you a very good 2024

[@nateandkatrinadotheworld]

We are so cold just watching! Great work, happy new year!

[@t.vanoosterhout233]

You very brave people!, gelukkig nieuwjaar and maybe try it again in august. 😎

[@itomg]

Have a great 2024!! I've been following you two for quite a long time now and with good reason. It's always a pleasure to see your discoveries and adventures. About the dive .... honestly .... Nope I never did it. Al the more reason to admire you two!

[@daphneschuring5810]

Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar! Happy New Year. Your Dutch is getting beter en beter

[@johnalexander8682]

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

[@monza1002000]

Well done both of you. Just the thought of it makes me shiver!

[@bertbaur3066]

The colder its outside ...the warmer the North Sea will be! You are great! Toppers!💪

[@RuurdvdZ]

Gelukkig nieuwjaar!🎆

[@drmcfacekick8912]

Oh hell yeah, putting this on my calendar for next year! 🎉

[@henkdouma8448]

Here in the north of Amsterdam (Oostzaan to be precise) we have a New Years dive in the nature park 'het Twiske'. Nicely sheltered against wind. Start of the dive is 1400 hrs on 1st of Januari. This year there were about 30-40 participants. Maybe an idea for next year? It's on the specific naturist beach 'Baaiegat' all the way at the end of the driveway (parking 15). Don't know if you need to buy a ticket for the car. Usually in Summer you have to but I don't think in Winter (I myself come there by bike so not sure).

[@peterf1]

OK, so you're not jumping motorcycles over canyons, taming lions or base jumping from the tallest building in Rotterdam, but any activity that finds one asking "at what point did you realize you couldn't breath?" deserves mad respect. I love the sofa/cat/tea discussion of how to prepare or the day and the ensuing training. Such dedication. That's not sarcasm, FYI. Happy New Year. To answer your question: never say never but no this would likely kill me. 😅 On my first visit to NL, during a bike tour, I did jump in the North Sea near Zandvoort. That was April, and I'm getting a shiver just thinking about it.

[@EdwinHofstra]

It's called the 'warme golfstroom' and it's the reason we have a temperate climate: It cools in summers and warms in winters.

[@EGO0808]

As a Dutchman, I also go out and dive into the waters on every New year’s first day. Nothing as refreshing as a good start of the new year! It is one of the traditions we kept, since we moved 5 years ago to Kuala Lumpur in tropical Malaysia!

[@buncharted]

probably warmer there on new years eh? 😄

[@EGO0808]

@@buncharted 😬🤣😊

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

Happy New Year. Creating your own traditions already :o).

[@MarceldeJong]

De beste wensen voor 2024, Buncharted! Nee ik heb nog nooit eerder een nieuwjaarsduik gedaan. Ik heb het wel willen doen, zelfs naakt heb ik overwogen. Maar de dichtstbijzijnde duik daarvoor is net te ver weg voor mij. En ik ken niet genoeg mensen om het zelf te organiseren.

[@erwinhof4674]

well done. gelukkig nieuwjaar

[@Leentvaar1964]

Respect!!

[@artonx4719]

😁👍Well done!

[@J.DeGroot]

Secretly we all come here for a glance at Michelle but she knows well ;)

[@jolaneman]

Happy new year and this made me excited for my swim in the sea tomorrow in belgium :D

[@Blackadder75]

I didn't know we had a blote duik variant. Jullie zijn echt dapper dat je dit gedaan hebt en ook nog filmt! Maar ok, in Finland springen ze bloot in een ijswak, tijdens de sauna. (En ja dat heb ik gedaan, het voelt hemels als je er weer uit bent)

[@WhoIsRamsey]

I had no idea about shrinkage until I saw that Seinfeld episode about it. Thanks a lot for another great video and best 2024 wishes.

[@framegote5152]

I haven't take part in any New Years dive ever, but I guess the feeling is a bit like when you're coming out of a steam room in a sauna and take a dip in the cold bath. You'll probably know what I'm talking about. Happy New Year.

[@TheUberDark]

Lekker hoor 🙃 Leuke video, leuke mensen.

[@norajazzypoppy9043]

Happy New Year 🎉😊

[@martijn260571]

My goodness 😅 sooo cold 😬 I think guys are pretty brave 🥶 I don’t think I would ever be so courageous 🙏🏼

[@AlexT74]

Gelukkig nieuwjaar 👋

[@MartinWebNatures]

My Respect guys 👍👍

[@Dutchbelg3]

I would do it. There is not so much a tradition to do it in Belgium but I would love to do it if I would be there. Great adventure and challenge!

[@zndernaam]

New years dive is a real refreshing, I did it 2 times. 1st time was in Scheveningen and the 2d was in Dordrecht. Guess u guys are defenitly real Dutchies now😁 Best wishes you guys!🎉

[@Sapharone]

Except for the hagelslag on the kapsalon. I'm still recovering from that.

[@1walkgirl]

OMG!, you almost had frozen frontbottoms!☃☃☃❄❄❄❄

[@Teslacoil333]

Respect 👍🏻😎👍🏻

[@EquisportAdvies]

great opportunity every newyears dive, especially the Nude dives organised by the NFN and affiliates. well done

[@NoraKitties]

That looks like so much fun! I would do this, but scared I'll roll out as an ice cube. 🤣

[@NL-001]

Heroes!

[@spinshade]

4:33 I'm sorry Alex that just killed me haha. Thanks for for suffering for me and happy new year!

[@tubularap]

Very brave of you, and good that you did it again, and going to do it every year. I did the New Year's Dive once, and as soon as I walked out of the sea I said: "I'm gonna do this every day." I did not do it every day, but I totally understand the exhilarating feeling after you come out of the water.

[@buncharted]

if we lived closer to the beach i would definitely consider doing it more often!

[@qazatqazah]

I'm so happy that YOU do this (so I don't have to). Very brave!

[@daniels_vip]

So cool you have done this im dutch and have never do that proud of you 2

[@BrazenNL]

I was today years old when I found out the Nieuwjaarsduik in Scheveningen isn't the only one … E: Sorry, I forgot: Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

[@dutchdilemma]

You guys may want to read a book by Wim Hof, also known as the "ICEMAN". He has a method to "brave" the cold with a breathing method.... Perhaps for next year?

[@knol1969]

Helden/heroes 💪🥶

[@MarkGelderland]

I want to do it now i've seen your video :) ! Looks like fun

[@MichelBaek]

Happy new year! That looked freaking cold. I wouldn’t do a nieuwjaarsduik. I took cold showers before and started hyperventilating. A nieuwjaarsduik would end up in me being Jack in Titanic. I would do a late nieuwjaarsduik in the summer though. No shrinking of certain bodyparts. Alex must have shrunk a little bit in that cold water 😉. ❤❤❤

[@littleone55555]

There was almost no one on the beach! Glad your group showed up for support! The only shot missing was of you too running into the water with the camera left on the beach watching your backsides =) A personal shot I would love to get one day, but who knows if I'll ever get the chance.

[@pandaradio8431]

somethin incredible happens at the nieuwjaars duik , it sort of resets your temperature awareness , and for about a week you will have a much higher tolerance to the cold and be comfortable at 18 degrees Celsius.

[@DeDoentje]

I did one nieuwjaarsduik a couple of years ago. It was in the Zilvermeer of Groniningen. It was much colder than expected. I ran twice in the water and the 2nd time was stil very cold. This year I was sick and not in Groningen, otherwise I might have participated with a nieuwjaarsduik with my bootcampteam the Body Buddy.

[@AnneSpeeFrickus]

Helden! Ik woon ongeveer 300 meter van de Zevenhuizerplas en daar is elk jaar een nieuwjaarsduik. Maar ik heb nog nooit gedacht: goh, daar ga ik aan mee doen 🥶🥶😂😂😂.

[@gertstolk]

Breathtaking and heartwarming, you beat the Dutch at being Dutch 😊❤

[@vincenttayelrand]

Kudos doing this. I am a fair weather nudist. Which limits my exposure to open waters to about 7 months every year. 🥶

[@moobaz8675]

Defo would do this.👍

[@hcjkruse]

Beste wensen! I think you might find the German coast in the East of Germany interesting to visit.

[@tetaomichel]

Imagine the power if you can take it. And that's why we do it.

[@dutchdisney]

I took a new years dive in Key West. I can recommend it... :D

[@iurliaka]

Hello, we are a Portuguese family from Azores.!!!! We simply love your youtube channel.

[@buncharted]

welcome! ❤️

[@iurliaka]

@@buncharted thnkx

[@mastercraft5798]

I'd be tempted to try this, but in a pair of trunks/shorts. It takes a brave and confident person to wander around naked in public... and that ain't me! You guys are great. All the best for 2024, looking forward to your posts.

[@buncharted]

it's a heck of a lot easier to dry off afterward this way, haha

[@Lars_erik]

Yep, I can imagine not having to peel off wet and frozen swimwear, before being able to put your clothes back on, would actually make it a bit more comfortable 😂

[@ricardomeertens9165]

thats funny must be flattering the reason why those videos do well. ive never done a newyearsdive even when i lived in zeeland so respect to you i will probably freeze my balls of if i tried.

[@emielverschuur8395]

ik vindt het echt stoer van jullie om dit te doen ik ben Nederlander en ik heb het nog nooit gedaan ik duik zelf wel en ijsduiken is echt heel gaaf maar met of zonder kleding met een groep de zee in rennen nee nog nooit en eerlijk gezegd het trekt me ook niet maar dat jullie het doen is heel tof nog een beetje op het Nederlands studeren en dan zijn jullie bijna Dutch .... de beste wensen voor 2024 i love the video

[@TheemoviesHD]

i do every year a nieuwjaarsduik in my jacuzi at the first day of the year

[@pgScorpio]

Next year you should try the blote nieuwjaarsduik in Zandvoort which, I think, is the most popular one.

[@tommykire]

This could be a good reason for me to visit Netherlands again. Please give a hint of location and time, a few days before next new year dive. Maybe I will be able to participate.

[@buncharted]

this page lists all of the dives every year! nieuwjaarsduik.info/

[@tommykire]

Wow, that's a long list ❤

[@sleutelbergen8678]

Brrrrrrrrrr ❤

[@Luthai2014]

Love your videos and have just started to catch-up with all your content. I do not know if people have given you these tips, but you really should start visiting the ‘Hanzesteden’. You can find a website about these as well. Basically, these are old cities with gorgeous city centers due to the golden age of trading, so a lot of medieval architecture. There are smaller cities like Hattum and Doesburg, but also larger ones like Deventer and Zwolle, which I think you’ve visited. Deventer and Doesburg are my favorites. If you ever decide to live here indefinitely I would really suggest buying a house, since it will probably be cheaper in the long run (and monthly costs should be cheaper) than renting as an expat. Also, Eastern and Northern NL is superior to the Randstad imo. Yes, you have a lot of museums and theaters etc. but there isn’t a lot of space or nature. Pretty smoggy too. So, move to the better parts. 😉Hope your adventure continues!

[@arjanvanderburg5934]

Bikkels! Been there, done that in 2000 and 2001.

[@H1SCOTTY]

I’m showering cold at the gym for over five minutes after the sauna and than I’m walking in shorts and shirt home to sit in my unheated living room (now about 13’C) and I’m still not freezing. So yeah I would do this and participated about ten times (never in the nude but wouldn’t be against it) in my hometown and once in Scheveningen. The cold shock is bigger because you’re just walking in the sea and here you’re jumping straight into the cold water. Every year they would go bigger with a slide and swing, but last ten years the organisation is stopped, this year I say there was a new year’s dive about 10 kilometres in a recreation area for a good cause so maybe next year and at that location is nude beach so who knows…

[@_maghetweten]

Kudo's for going twice in a row! Too cold for my taste. Won't dare to try it with swim suit on, let alone without. What I did do: after a hot Finnish sauna, straight into the cold dip pool. Can't stand the heat of sauna's so it felt deliberated. My New years tradition: eat left over oliebollen and a biscuit called 'kniepertjes' Maybe you can still find them at the discount section of the Albert Heijn. Saw them yesterday with 50% discount ;) Goes a long way with hot choco and whipped cream!

[@lucas27932]

Ha, A fresh cold start for the new year 👍🏻. Coming week it will start to freeze. With any luck you can witness this year a typical Dutch social phenomenon, called "schaatskoorts". 😄

[@renevaanhold]

What are foot warmers? How do they look like?

[@buncharted]

they stick to the inside of your shoe and get warm :) www.kruidvat.nl/kruidvat-voetwarmers/p/5970767

[@buddy1155]

You really should go to Finland and do the Sauna/ice dive thing.

[@buncharted]

we would really love to someday

[@SuperDutchjohn]

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar to the both of you too and to answer your question, would I do it or consider it? That is a big NO due to for instance reumatisme.....however I had Scottish showers in the past, trust me, you get numb too during the cold parts of that shower............so, maybe that would be a good training for you both?? Thumbs up!!

[@tdmduc]

KUDOS to you, American friends. I have never done this in my life and I am born here.💯💯

[@petervandenburg9046]

First of all, it's good that you're back again! And as regards the new years dive (totally nude!)..i've been living in Den Haag for 35 years now and i'm too coward to do such a thing..so..much respect for you!! I guess you're already more dutch now than me..😂😮

[@Haroekoe]

You are so funny and adventurous!!!! I never did it, but if you did twice already.... perhaps I should consider doing it. Scheveningen, not the nude version...😅 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼✌🏼

[@janharml]

Almost 30 years ago I had to make a floating pakkage when I was in the army. To get everything you have with you dry across the water. It was late oktober and the temperatures were anout the same as the were last week. We had to go in the water in our underwear. We went in up to our waste and had to walk quit a distance. When we saw our NCO at the waterside we thought this was it. No it wasn't.He pointed to a buoy quit far in the river. That was were we had to swim around, and then we could come out. I am never doing something like that again.

[@KeesAlderliesten]

0:07, no ocean here, just a sea 🙂

[@ShadowDrakken]

The whole idea of doing a polar bear dive is terrifying to me 😅 I'd probably go if my partner insisted, but I dunno...

[@christianlangenberg6614]

Now you are real Dutch..! 👊👍

[@666toysoldier]

If you are going to do a "polar bear plunge," do it naked. That way you don't have a cold, wet suit to shed before getting dry and warm.

[@SwirlingSoul]

I really hope you were wearing watershoes? If not... read about the sting of the pieterman vis. I think you'll be wearing shoes next time! That was fun to watch. COLD too. I'm glad I stayed home, I'm just not one for that kind of cold. I'd feel it in my bones for weeks.