The end of traditional outdoor pools
Once highly popular during the summer months, outdoor swimming pools in Belgium are now facing an uncertain future.
In recent years, many such facilities have had to shut down or reconsider their use due to various economic, technical, and ecological challenges. The reasons for this trend are multifaceted, encompassing maintenance costs, environmental concerns, and issues related to security and human resource management.
However, emerging solutions are aiming to adapt these leisure spaces to meet the evolving expectations of society.
Reasons for the closure of outdoor pools
One of the main reasons behind the closure of outdoor swimming pools in Belgium is the aging of infrastructure. Many of these facilities, built decades ago, require expensive renovations to comply with current standards.
For instance, the swimming pool at the Huizingen Provincial Domain in Flemish Brabant had to close permanently due to the obsolescence of its technical installations, which became impossible to maintain, particularly due to a shortage of replacement parts.
Additionally, the estimated costs to renovate or rebuild the pool ranged between 17 and 25 million euros—amounts that are hard to justify given the profitability of these pools, which operate mainly during the summer.
Energy costs have also played a significant role. Heated outdoor pools, in particular, are highly vulnerable to rising energy prices. During periods of energy crises, keeping a pool open for just a few months a year becomes financially unsustainable for some municipalities. This issue was especially evident in pools like De Lammekes in Grimbergen, which had to close multiple times due to a lack of staff and resources to maintain its aging infrastructure.
Finally, safety and public behavior concerns are key factors. These facilities often contend with frequent incidents, sometimes linked to disruptive behavior by certain segments of the public, particularly younger visitors. This has been the case at facilities such as De Lammekes and Huizingen, where maintaining safety has become a major challenge. Frequent police interventions and rising security management costs have proven too burdensome.
Here are three examples of iconic outdoor pools that have been around for decades, but have had to close (or redevelop) in recent years.
Sustainable alternatives to traditional outdoor pools
In response to the closure of traditional outdoor pools, authorities are exploring more sustainable and economically viable alternatives. The example of the Huizingen pool is illustrative. Rather than permanently closing the facility, the province is considering replacing the old pool with a sustainable aquatic recreation area, featuring water play zones and pools that use natural filtration systems, such as plants to purify the water. Similar projects have been initiated in Kessel-Lo and Diest, where existing pools could be replaced by recreational areas with water features for children and adults, eliminating the need for chlorine or energy-intensive systems.
The Bois des Rêves Provincial Domain, which previously housed a classic outdoor pool, has also embraced this innovative approach with its Spray Park. This facility allows visitors, especially children, to enjoy water in a playful and refreshing way through interactive and eco-friendly installations. The water jet park provides an ideal compromise, meeting aquatic recreation needs without the financial and environmental burdens of traditional pools.
These new types of water parks pave the way for sustainable outdoor aquatic recreation in Belgium.
A more sustainable future for outdoor pools
The closure of traditional outdoor pools marks a turning point in the evolution of outdoor bathing facilities in Belgium. Faced with increasing environmental and budgetary pressures, the country is shifting toward more modern and eco-friendly solutions, reimagining aquatic spaces to align with contemporary expectations.
This transition does not signal the end of outdoor aquatic recreation but rather an adaptation to today’s imperatives: reducing water and energy consumption and creating sustainable, accessible spaces.
Projects like the Brussels canal pool exemplify this shift. By employing natural filtration techniques and integrating the pool into the urban ecosystem, they demonstrate that outdoor swimming can be reimagined in an environmentally conscious way, even in dense urban environments.
Another example is the Flow outdoor pool initiative, managed by the Pool is Cool collective. This seasonal facility has proven highly popular among Brussels residents, offering a much-needed outdoor swimming experience with minimal environmental impact and management tailored to modern demands.
Far from disappearing, outdoor swimming facilities are evolving to become spaces that better align with the desires of residents, who seek aquatic environments that respect nature. This shift heralds a new era where leisure and environmental preservation coexist, with a strong focus on sustainability.
