History

The new Marnix complex now stands where once the old Marnix Baths had its origins. It is no longer called the Marnix Baths but more appropriately, the Marnix, as the complex is nowadays much more than just swimming baths. Even then, there were lots of things going on in the old swimming baths, which the local citizens fondly called: "the old lady". Among great festivities, the baths were opened by Queen Juliana, in 1955. The Marnix Baths were then considered to be the most modern swimming baths in Europe. Journalists from around the world came to see this modern architecture, and inform the world about the marvel, as to how the swimming baths were built, one above the other.

Public Baths

There were, however, more amenities than just the swimming pools, which turned the old Marnix into a local community centre. There was a laundry and mangle facility in the basement, where the locals came to do their laundry, once a week. On the first floor, there were public baths were the whole neighbourhood bathed and showered, as the houses in the area did not have any modern bathrooms, which we are used-to today.

Swimming Instructors

There were three swimming instructors, who gave swimming lessons to the children from the area. Instructor Sybrand , came here himself as a child to shower, when he was living at the Da Costakade. "There always used to be a long queue", Sybrand told us, "so we went roller-skating until it was our turn. In 1979, Sybrand started out as a young swimming instructor with a fresh go-ahead approach. At that time, the instructors and lifeguards walked the sides of the pool, neatly dressed in long white trousers with a long pole, fitted with a hook, with which they literally fished kids out of the water. Sybrands however, just laid down the pole and jumped into the water to rescue anyone in trouble.

Passion

Instructors Henk and André who joined later, also were a permanent fixture at the Marnix Baths, for more than twenty years,. This triumvirate has seen and experienced it all. Like the old lady who took her swimming test at the age of 93. There also was a lady who was immensely afraid of the water, because she was convinced the water was black. Then there was the Olympic Water-polo champion Jasmine Smit", who practiced her first strokes at the Marnix Baths. Henk now teaches Jasmine's daughter. "We have seen whole families go by", says Henk. "When I'm shopping in the neighbourhood, people recognize me from their younger years when they were following my swimming lessons".

When the old baths closed for three years, in order to be demolished and be rebuild, no-one thought that we would be back in the new complex. But here they are, all three of them, because of their passion for their work. André later declared: "I never thought, any job could be this much fun".