JE VEUX NAGER, crowdfunding campaign to support open air swimming in Brussels

JE VEUX NAGER is the name of the new campaign which starts today, a crowdfunding action that aims to support POOL IS COOL, the pop-up pool FLOW and their fight for open air swimming in Brussels. The song Je Veux Nager by late Brussels’ singer Arno plays the main role in this crowdfunding campaign.

“Et moi, je veux nager. Encore une fois avec toi!” With these iconic lyrics, Brussels music legend Arno rocked himself into the playlist of every Belgian radio station back in 2002. Today, exactly 20 years later, the classic anthem lies at the heart of a wide crowdfunding campaign to bring open-air swimming to Brussels. The campaign becomes all the more a tribute to Arno, who himself still gave permission to use his song for this good cause.

What was from the start to become a campaign that literally and figuratively bathes Brussels culture, now also becomes a tribute to le plus beau. Not only will the voice of the recently deceased legend Arno Hintjens resound in the city, but the song itself is starting a new tour through the Brussels music scene. And this with the approval and support of the maestro himself. Five bands from Brussels, from the indie band Splendeur to the caribbean band Tropicant, record their own version of Je Veux Nager and sing at the top of their lungs for open air swimming in Brussels.

“We hope that with us even more Brusseleirs, from musicians to music lovers, will sing Je Veux Nager and share it with their network, for example on social media”, says Frederik Lamote, director of Growfunding, the social crowdfunding platform on which the campaign was launched. “In this way, Arno’s classic is coming back to life to campaign for what is absolutely necessary: open-air swimming in Brussels as soon as possible. Open air swimming is more than a cool or sporty activity. It lets people of all cultures and ages connect with their surroundings and with each other,” adds Paul Steinbrück, co-founder of POOL IS COOL.

“We’re aiming for around 60,000 euros,” says Steinbrück. “With the crowdfunding campaign, we want to show that Brussels residents are really into outdoor swimming. With the funds raised we will re-open FLOW, the pop-up swimming pool in Anderlecht, and refine the way of working. This way, we want to make open-air swimming in Brussels a viable option in the short and long term.”

“In this way, Arno’s classic is coming back to life to campaign for what is absolutely necessary: open-air swimming in Brussels as soon as possible. Open air swimming is more than a cool or sporty activity. It lets people of all cultures and ages connect with their surroundings and with each other.”

Paul Steinbrück, co-founder of POOL IS COOL.

The anthem should become the start of a real movement in Brussels. Let’s all sing ‘Je veux nager’ at the top of our voices.

Supporting Pool is Cool is possible until 10/07/2022 via growfunding.be/pooliscool.

POOL is Cool campaigns for the reintroduction of outdoor swimming in Brussels through actions, projects, research and debate. Founded in 2016, the Brussels-based non-profit organization is a platform of citizens who use their diverse expertise to address the complex challenges of outdoor swimming in the European capital. Pool is Cool’s mission is to give all Brussels residents the opportunity to enjoy outdoor swimming as a sport and social activity in a natural way.