Many beachgoers don’t understand the meaning of warning flags, according to research by VU Amsterdam and Mijksenaar Lab. In response, a new set of flags featuring clear icons and text has been developed and will be rolled out in the coming years.
As part of the national project 'Het Strand Veilig' (Safe Beaches), researchers from VU Amsterdam and Mijksenaar Lab conducted a four-year study into the effectiveness of existing warning flags used at beaches and inland waters.
Professor of Visual Cognition Chris Olivers and PhD candidate Fenne Roefs (also a designer at Mijksenaar Lab) found that many people do not fully understand what the flags mean, which can pose serious risks.
The project team, therefore, created a simplified system, reducing the number of flags from eight to five. While the base colours remain the same, each flag now includes an icon and brief text to clarify the message.
Over the next two years, the updated flag system will be introduced nationwide. Some coastal municipalities will begin using the new flags as early as this summer.