Amsterdam City Swim raises record €3 million for ALS research: what it means for expats in the Netherlands

On Sunday, September 7, 2026, a record 3,300 swimmers plunged into Amsterdam’s canals for the annual Amsterdam City Swim, raising a record €3 million for research into ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a fatal neurodegenerative disease. The event, now in its 15th year, more than doubled the €1.73 million raised in 2025 (DutchNews).

For internationals living in the Netherlands, the Amsterdam City Swim is more than a feel-good community event. It highlights a key feature of Dutch civic life: the poldermodel of collective problem-solving, where citizens, businesses, and foundations come together to fund research that the government may not fully cover. The ALS Netherlands Foundation (Stichting ALS Nederland) channels all proceeds into research and projects “in the fight against ALS,” according to Daan Vos, chairman of the Amsterdam City Swim Foundation (NL Times, Sept 6).

How the day unfolded

The event kicked off at 10:45 a.m. with the Short & Junior Swim (750 meters) at the National Maritime Museum (Nationaal Scheepvaartmuseum). At 12:45 p.m., the Classic Swim (2 kilometers) began near Keizersgracht 663, with groups entering the water every three to five minutes. Swimmers finished at the Marineterrein, adjacent to the museum. The first finishers crossed the line around 1:20 p.m. (NL Times, Sept 6).

Among the participants were 12 people living with ALS. Some swam independently; others were towed by family and friends. Notable Dutch personalities who took part included television presenter Beau van Erven Dorens, radio host Marieke Elsinga, actress Monic Hendrickx, and singer Maaike Ouboter (DutchNews).

Why this matters for expats

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, causes progressive loss of muscle control. There is no cure, and most patients die within three to five years of diagnosis. In the Netherlands, around 500 people are diagnosed each year (DutchNews). For someone on a residence permit, understanding the Dutch healthcare and charity landscape is important: while basic health insurance (basisverzekering) covers medical treatment, research into rare diseases like ALS relies heavily on private donations and events like this.

Donations to the Amsterdam City Swim remain open until the end of September, with the final total announced on October 1 (DutchNews). If you want to contribute, the online donation portal is still live — no Dutch bank account required, though iDEAL is the most common payment method here.

A tradition born from a Turkish swim

The Amsterdam City Swim began in 2011 when a group of friends swam the Hellespont in Turkey in memory of a friend who died of ALS, raising €90,000. The first Amsterdam edition followed in 2012, with 1,100 swimmers — including then-Princess Máxima — raising €740,000 (DutchNews). Since then, the event has grown into one of the Netherlands’ largest charity swims.

What’s next?

The €3 million will be allocated by the ALS Netherlands Foundation to research projects and support initiatives. The organizers have not yet detailed the specific research milestones funded by previous years’ proceeds, but the foundation regularly publishes updates on its website (in Dutch). For internationals who want to follow progress, the foundation’s English-language pages are limited, but the Amsterdam City Swim website offers some information in English.

As Daan Vos said: “Every euro helps speed research and brings us a step closer to the ultimate goal: an effective treatment for ALS” (NL Times, Sept 7).