PRICING GUIDE FOR PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS IN BRUSSELS

How much does it cost to visit a public swimming pool in Brussels? Which pools offer the best value? Should you buy a single admission ticket, a multi-entry pass or a membership?

Prices can vary considerably from one swimming pool to another, depending on your age, where you live and the type of ticket or pass you choose. Some pools offer discounted rates to local residents, while others have special prices for children, students, seniors or people entitled to social discounts.

To make things clearer, Swim.brussels compares prices at 15 public swimming pools in Brussels, using published price lists and information provided by the pools themselves.

Our comparison tool shows single-admission prices, multi-entry passes and memberships, together with their conditions and validity periods.

The comparison tool below brings together the main options offered by public swimming pools. Prices are organised into three categories: single admissions, multi-entry passes and memberships.
Where pools charge different rates based on where you live, you can switch between the resident rate and the non-resident rate to see the relevant prices.

Age ranges, special conditions and validity periods are shown alongside the prices to make comparisons easier.

The price of a single admission mainly depends on three factors: the pool you choose, your personal circumstances and any discounts you may qualify for.

For adults who do not qualify for a special discount, pools generally charge a standard admission rate. At many municipal pools, this is split into two categories: resident and non-resident rates.
The lowest advertised price is not necessarily available to everyone. Before comparing two pools, check the conditions you must meet to qualify for the listed rate.
Admission may also be limited to a specific amount of time in the pool. Where such restrictions are known, they are indicated in the comparison tool.

Brussels swimming pools do not all use the same age categories.
Some discounts are for children under 12, while others extend to age 18 or even older. It is therefore important to check the exact age range associated with each price.
Free admission for very young children also varies by pool. Some allow children under 3 or 4 to swim for free, while others charge admission from a younger age.
That is why our comparison tool shows age conditions and any free-admission rules rather than forcing all children into a single price category.

Conditions for senior rates also differ between pools.
At one pool, a discount may be available from age 50; at another, from age 60 or 65. In some cases, eligibility is based on pensioner status rather than a specific age.
It would therefore be misleading to treat all these rates as directly equivalent. The comparison tool preserves each pool’s own conditions so you can see which rate may apply to you.

Many swimming pools offer passes that let you pay for several visits in advance.

Depending on the pool, these may cover 10, 20 or more admissions. Some passes also include an additional free visit.

Their main advantage is the potential to reduce the average cost per swim compared with buying individual tickets.

However, there are three important things to check:

• Validity period: a pass may expire after a few months, even if you have not used all your entries.
• Additional fees: some pools charge a fee to issue the pass or require a refundable deposit for an access card.
• Conditions of use: a pass may be personal, transferable or subject to other restrictions.

Where the data allows, our comparison tool shows the theoretical price per entry when using a multi-entry pass.
This is calculated by dividing the price of the pass by the number of visits it includes, assuming every entry is used within the validity period.
So do not look only at the price per swim: a pass that appears good value could end up costing more than individual tickets if you do not use it often enough.

For regular swimmers, a membership is another option.
Public swimming pools in Brussels offer different plans, including memberships lasting a few months and annual memberships. However, not all pools offer the same durations.
Our comparison tool distinguishes between short-term memberships and annual memberships, while showing the conditions attached to each option.

You cannot directly compare a three-month membership with a six- or twelve-month membership simply by looking at the total price.
To make comparisons easier, we also show an average monthly cost, calculated by dividing the membership price by its duration.
This average is only a way to compare prices. It does not mean that the pool offers monthly payments: the full membership price may be payable upfront.
You should also check any access restrictions, permitted swimming hours and renewal conditions.

The most cost-effective option depends mainly on how often you swim.
If you swim occasionally, individual tickets offer flexibility without an upfront commitment. You avoid paying for visits you may never use.
If you swim fairly regularly, a multi-entry pass may lower the cost per visit, provided you use it before it expires.
If you swim very frequently, a membership may offer better value, especially if you visit the same pool several times a week.
However, there is no universal number of weekly visits at which a membership becomes worthwhile: prices, validity periods and conditions differ between pools.
The best approach is to estimate how many times you expect to swim over several months, then compare the total cost of the options you are actually eligible to buy.

At several public swimming pools in Brussels, residents of certain municipalities can benefit from a reduced rate.
This is partly because municipal authorities help fund local sports facilities. They may offer special prices to local residents while still welcoming swimmers from other areas.
Important: a resident rate does not always apply only to people living in the municipality where the pool is located.
Some pools extend local rates to residents of several municipalities or areas. At Nereus, for example, residents of Ganshoren, Jette and Koekelberg qualify for the local rate.

At Sportcity, the published pricing conditions also provide a resident rate for people living in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Wezembeek.
By contrast, some facilities, such as the VUB swimming pool, base their price categories mainly on users’ status rather than where they live.
To avoid confusion, our comparison tool reproduces the wording and conditions supplied by the pools. Proof of address or another supporting document may be required to claim a discount.

The answer depends on your circumstances and the rates you qualify for.
For adult admission, you can compare resident and non-resident prices. But this does not mean the cheapest pool in the table will be the cheapest for everyone.
The results may differ for children, pensioners, students and people entitled to social discounts.
The ranking may also change when you compare multi-entry passes or memberships instead of individual tickets.
To find the best-value swimming pool for your circumstances, start by selecting the relevant price category and resident or non-resident rate in the comparison tool.
Price is naturally important, but distance, opening hours, time limits in the pool and available facilities may also influence your choice.

The main categories in the comparison tool do not necessarily cover every available option.
Some pools offer special rates for students, people entitled to Belgium’s increased healthcare reimbursement (BIM), people with disabilities, large families or people receiving social assistance.
Eligibility may depend on conditions specific to each pool, such as an age limit, administrative status, a particular card or supporting documentation.
A discounted rate that does not appear in the main comparison tool is not necessarily unavailable.
For all the available options and known conditions, we recommend checking the detailed Swim.brussels page for the pool concerned.

The comparisons published on Swim.brussels are based on available official price lists and information provided by swimming pool operators. We preserve age categories, special conditions and verification dates so that prices can be presented without creating misleading equivalences.
Despite these checks, swimming pool operators remain responsible for their prices and may change them. If you represent a swimming pool or notice an error, please contact us with the correction and its supporting source.