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Maarten van der Weijden halts swim tour due to health issues

Maarten van der Weijden had to stop his 22-city swim due to stomach problems, but is trying to resume swimming after a day of rest.

20 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Maarten van der Weijden halts swim tour due to health issues — Archive photoPhoto: Alexandervn_85 · Flickr · BY

Maarten van der Weijden has halted his 270-kilometer 22-city swim for health reasons. He announced this after experiencing stomach issues and nausea, as reported by various news outlets. The swimmer began his adventure on Monday from his hometown of Vught, aiming to raise funds for cancer research, specifically for the Princess Máxima Center.

According to Omroep Brabant, Van der Weijden was unable to resume his long swim that day due to his health complaints. The swimmer had previously stated that this would be his last swim for cancer research, in which he aims to swim past 22 cities.

On Wednesday, Van der Weijden posted a video on Instagram updating his fans on his situation. This was on the scheduled third day of his swim, but health issues forced him to stop temporarily.

After a day of rest, Van der Weijden returned to the water on Thursday morning to resume his swim. He revealed that he is not yet fully fit, but he intends to complete his swim and achieve his goal.

The organization overseeing the swim has confirmed that Van der Weijden is swimming under supervision and that his health is being monitored. No exact details have been provided regarding the severity of his stomach issues, but it is clear that his well-being is a priority.

The swim, which spans a total of 270 kilometers along 22 cities, aims to raise money for childhood cancer research. The decision to take a rest day has also been confirmed by other media and underscores the importance of the swimmer's health.

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