THE OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL AT THE HUIZINGEN PROVINCIAL DOMAIN

The outdoor pool at the Huizingen provincial domain before 2022

For several decades, the outdoor pool at the Huizingen Provincial Domain in Beersel was an iconic destination for families and swimming enthusiasts. Featuring a heated outdoor pool, water slides, spacious lawns for relaxation, fountains, and a cafeteria, it attracted thousands of visitors during the summer months. The outdoor pool was supervised by lifeguards, ensuring the safety of bathers. It was open every day during July and August, and on Wednesdays, weekends, and public holidays from May to September.

Closure of the outdoor pool at the Huizingen domain in 2022

Unfortunately, since 2022, the pool has been out of service. This decision, although difficult for the local community, became necessary due to various factors. The pool, built in 1948 and renovated in 1997, had reached the end of its life span. The technical facilities were outdated, and repairs were increasingly complex and costly. Finding replacement parts was a real challenge, with some elements needing to be ordered from abroad, particularly from Switzerland.

Operating costs had also become unsustainable. Each year, maintaining the facilities and paying the lifeguards’ salaries generated a bill far exceeding the revenue from ticket sales, especially during cooler summers or periods with pandemic restrictions. The rising costs of energy and water, along with difficulties in recruiting lifeguards to ensure the safety of bathers, further exacerbated the situation.

Reflection towards a sustainable future

Beyond technical and financial difficulties, the ecological context also played a role. The pool consumed large amounts of water and energy, a model that no longer aligns with current environmental concerns. Moreover, managing the influx of young visitors from Brussels, sometimes causing disturbances and requiring costly security measures, was an additional burden for the domain’s administration.

The province of Vlaams-Brabant decided not to reopen the pool, opting instead for a more sustainable alternative.

Starting in 2025, a new natural aquatic play area is expected to be created, located around the Molenbeek, a currently underground watercourse. This project aims to offer families and children a place to relax more in harmony with nature, where it will be possible to cool off and wade in a natural setting.

The turning point for Huizingen pool

The definitive closure of the Huizingen pool symbolizes the shift towards more environmentally friendly leisure forms. While this decision has sparked mixed reactions, including among regulars and some politicians, it reflects an inevitable trend: the need to rethink leisure infrastructures in the face of economic, social, and ecological challenges of our time. The era of heated outdoor pools seems to be ending, replaced by more sustainable and accessible aquatic spaces over a longer period of the year.