We Love Brussels
  • Urban Life
    • Urban Jungle
    • Photo Stories
    • But Why?
    • Smart City
    • City Branding
    • Seniors
    • Real Estate
  • Culture & Creativity
    • New Economy
    • Local Makers & Shakers
    • Illustrations
    • Fashion City
  • Discover & Meet
    • Travel & Tourism news
    • Foodie guide
  • Event Diary
  • Europolitan Trends
Brussels Inspiration Bureau
Social Links
Instagram 56K Followers
Facebook 57K Followers
Twitter 10K Followers
  • Our Story
  • Partnerships & Collaborations
  • Contact
56K
57K
10K
We Love Brussels
We Love Brussels
  • Urban Life
    • Urban Jungle
    • Photo Stories
    • But Why?
    • Smart City
    • City Branding
    • Seniors
    • Real Estate
  • Culture & Creativity
    • New Economy
    • Local Makers & Shakers
    • Illustrations
    • Fashion City
  • Discover & Meet
    • Travel & Tourism news
    • Foodie guide
  • Event Diary
  • Europolitan Trends
  • Community news
  • Building the platform
  • Community of city admirers
  • Partnerships & Collaborations
  • Get in Touch
Become our contributor. Join the team!

Sign up for our newsletter

Get our periodical updates. Zero spam.

  • archi & urban heritage
  • real estate
  • Urban Life

Brussels will build first public open-air swimming pool on Abattoir site

  • Editorial Team
  • December 30, 2022
  • 4 minute read

The Brussels government approved the proposal by Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort and Brussels State Secretary for Urbanism Pascal Smet to build an indoor and outdoor swimming pool on the roof of the Manufakture building on the Abattoir site in Anderlecht. ​The Brussels Urban Development Corporation “SAU” will now concretise the project and explore the exploitation possibilities. Flanders also dives in the project and is making funds available to co-finance the project, confirmed Bart Somers, Flemish Minister for Domestic Administration.

Public outdoor swimming facilities have been a sensitive issue in Brussels for a long time. An issue that returns in the growing heat of every summer. In 2006, Pascal Smet launched an international architecture competition to create an open-air swimming pool in the Béco Dock in front of the entrance to Tour & Taxis. Unfortunately, this project was cancelled by Smet’s successor in the next legislature, Brigitte Grouwels. The request of many Brusselers to be able to have a refreshing swim outdoors has only grown louder since then. Citizen collective “Pool is Cool” has been creating a positive vibe around the topic for several years and, with public support, it even created a temporary open-air swimming pool along the canal in Anderlecht in recent summers.

The Brussels government formation in 2019 was the perfect opportunity for Rudi Vervoort and Pascal Smet to pave the way for Brussels’ first public open-air swimming pool. In May 2021, the Brussels government approved Vervoort and Smet’s proposal to launch a feasibility study for a multi-purpose swimming pool (with indoor and outdoor pools) on the Abattoir site in Anderlecht. This study was assigned to the Urban Development Corporation (SAU) and its results were presented to the Brussels Government in October 2021.

The swimming pool project is part of a broader partnership with Abattoir SA, which is building the Manufakture warehouse, with the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). In that context, a public urban program will also be launched along the canal. Thus, there will be up to 200 public housing units and the widely known market at the slaughterhouse will remain. The planned swimming pool at this location will help create the new dynamics that the Region is striving for.”

Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort.

​In February 2022, the Brussels Region issued a planning permit for the Manufakture building on the Abattoir site in Anderlecht. This building will house food producing and processing companies. The project included structural reinforcement to allow the building to support a swimming pool on its roof. For these reinforcement works, urban.brussels and the Flemish Community Commission (VGC) made available 2,127,000 euros and 1,800,000 euros respectively. The combination of food producing and processing companies and a swimming pool is no coincidence. The cooling rooms of these activities release a lot of heat, which will be used to sustain a pleasant water temperature. In April 2022, the board of directors of Abattoir appointed a contractor. Meanwhile, preparatory works on the Manufakture project, with a structure capable of supporting a future swimming pool, have been started.

“I worked long and hard to obtain this decision and am obviously delighted that we will ​ finally build a public open-air swimming pool in Brussels. And what a swimming pool! Young and old will be able to swim in a unique place, with a stunning view of the city. This will make a huge difference to the life quality of thousands of Brusselers.”

Pascal Smet, Brussels State Secretary for Urbanism.

By approving the plan of action proposed by Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort and Brussels State Secretary for Urbanism Pascal Smet, the Brussels government is now finally giving the go for the construction of an outdoor swimming pool on the roof of the Manufakture building.
​The SAU will now start concrete preparations for the pool, such as the legal structure for development and operation and the preparation of the tender procedure for construction.

Flanders also joins the project funding

The Flemish government supports the project and decided to release 3.4 million euros, confirmed Flemish Minister of Domestic Administration Bart Somers. These funds will allow the Flemish Community Commission to take an active partner role within the public swimming pool development. This support is therefore excellent news for (Dutch-language) swimming clubs and swimming classes.

The project’s total cost, with indoor and outdoor pool, is estimated at 20.2 million euros. This amount also includes the 2,127,000 euros and the 1,800,000 euros that urban.brussels and the sports department of the Flemish Community Commission, competences of Pascal Smet, have already released for the structure works that are about to start.

For the remaining funds, several authorities are joining forces. Including the municipality of Anderlecht, which is standing up as a partner in the project, since the needs are great for the surrounding schools.

“Our cities never stand still. They are places in constant movement, with a drive for innovation and renewal. With the concept subsidies for urban renewal, we support cities to develop a new vision for an urban area, to boost the attractiveness, liveability and sustainability of their city and thus make it an even more pleasant place to live, work and play. The construction of a swimming pool on the Abattoir site in Anderlecht is a perfect example of this,” says Flemish Minister for Domestic Administration Bart Somers said.

Brussels Minister Sven Gatz, in charge of Education and Schools also shared his satisfaction with this project: “It is important that our young Brusselers learn to swim. This does not only improve their health, but also their safety. We must also continue to ensure affordable swimming for every child and easily accessible swimming pools. The implementation of this project will definitely contribute to that, given the lack of swimming pool water in the Brussels Region.”

“Cureghem is a neighbourhood in real need of additional public space and neighbourhood facilities. And more generally, the Brussels Region really needs accessible swimming pools, so that learning to swim will not become a privilege, but remains an option for everyone. I am happy that we can invest in an ecological, accessible swimming pool complex, especially aimed at schools and low-income Brusselers,” concluded Elke Van den Brandt, president of the VGC college.

More info.

Total
14
Shares
Like 14
Tweet 0
Share 0
Share 0
Like 0
Share 0
Editorial Team

WeLoveBrussels is a digital platform focusing on the city life, culture, creativity, events, amazing places, lifestyle, urban development trends and simple beauty around us.

You May Also Like
View Post
  • local makers & shakers
  • New Economy

VUB Social Entrepreneurship Challenge 2023

  • Editorial Team
  • January 25, 2023
View Post
  • Urban Life

Get the best of Brussels: 12 New Year’s Resolution Ideas for 2023!

  • Karolina
  • January 2, 2023
View Post
  • Urban Life

Welcoming 2023: Photo story from New Year’s Eve in Brussels!

  • Editorial Team
  • January 1, 2023
Brussels Inspiration Bureau

Exploring the best of Brussels since 2014.

Discover more!
Our columnists & bloggers:
Aleksandra Rowicka
Addicted to cultural life of Brussels, fashion photography and dark…
Aris Setya
Indonesian living in Brussels. Passionate about photography. Love…
Boro Milovic
Boro is the founder and editor-in-chief of WeLoveBrussels. His interests…
Dorka Demeter
Dorka is a Hungarian expat living in Brussels for 10 years. Admirer of…
Emilia Valbum
Expat from Copenhagen living in Brussels. EU + global politics nerd on…
Fadi Dalati
A urologist by profession, and a photographer by passion. I try to…
Julia Zelle
Half-Italian, half-German girl who has just moved to Bruxelles.…
Karolina
Karolina is a blogger sharing stories on European cities, local…
kateinbrussels
I am Kate. I've lived in Brussels for 16 years and am still discovering…
Meredith @ellesbxl
Meredith Geldof is a Flemish girl who moved to Brussels and enjoys…
Tireless_Traveler
Nath is born and raised in Brussels but with a serious case of…
Download our free guide!
Incentives & events in Brussels:
Incentives & events in Brussels:
Missed our printed edition?
Press Club Brussels Europe
As seen in
25 most popular instagram accounts in Belgium

Views & opinions expressed across this website are solely that of the authors and contributors themselves and may not reflect the position of WeLoveBrussels. The editorial or publisher of WeLoveBrussels cannot be held responsible for expressed opinions or unintended errors and oversights if any.

Get our periodical updates. Zero spam.

Instagram 56K Followers
Facebook 57K Followers
Twitter 10K Followers
WeLoveBrussels
  • Our story & more
  • Get in Touch
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal notice
Brussels Inspiration Bureau. Your guide to city life, culture, business, travel, Brussels events agenda & cultural diplomacy.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT