IXELLES: INCLUSIVE SWIMMING SLOT FOR PLUS-SIZE PEOPLE

Starting from mid-September 2025, the Ixelles swimming pool will introduce a special weekly slot reserved for plus-size people. Every Sunday, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm (excluding school holidays), the pool will host two activities:

• Aquagym class led by a physiotherapist, limited to 12 participants
• Free swimming area for 18 swimmers

Why a “fat friendly” swimming slot?

The initiative is organized by the non-profit Fat Friendly, active since 2021, which fights against fatphobia and works to make public spaces more accessible. The Ixelles swimming pool was already seen as a suitable venue thanks to its adapted changing rooms and stairs leading into the pool.

According to Marie-Amah Kouadio, member of Fat Friendly:
“From the very beginning, the community expressed the wish to take part in collective activities. This new swimming slot allows plus-size people, who often suffer from judgmental looks, to enjoy sports, move their bodies, and have fun — with one barrier less.”

Aquagym and adapted swimming in Brussels

As Pelphine, founder of Fat Friendly, explains, most existing classes for plus-size people are offered in medical contexts (obesity centers, physiotherapy clinics) and often focus on weight loss. Here, the approach is completely different: it’s about well-being, pleasure, and inclusivity rather than medical goals.

Support from the Ixelles municipality

The commune welcomed the idea with enthusiasm. According to Nabil Messaoudi (PS), Alderman for Sports in Ixelles:
“We already had many ‘sports for all’ programs, but we had not yet thought specifically about plus-size people. When Fat Friendly came to us with this idea, we immediately said yes.”