An outdoor swimming pool in Brussels? The government has decided

The total cost of the project is estimated at 20.2 million euros.

By the editor

Published on 26/12/2022 at 13:27Reading time: 2 mins

Lhe Brussels government has given its final green light to the construction of an outdoor swimming pool on the site of the Abattoirs d’Anderlecht, Brussels State Secretary for Urbanism Pascal Smet confirmed in a press release on Monday. This project is co-financed by the Flemish government.

The aquatic complex will consist of an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, on the roof of the Manufakture building, located on the site of the Abattoirs d’Anderlecht. In February, the Brussels Region issued the planning permit for this project. This will be implemented by the region’s Urban Development Company (SAU), which will examine the possibilities of exploitation.

This open-air swimming pool will offer the inhabitants of Brussels the opportunity to cool off in the summer. The “Flow” swimming pool, an initiative of the non-profit association Pool is Cool, already offered this possibility during the summers of 2021 and 2022, but the need for a permanent outdoor swimming pool was increasing. After the granting of the building permit, the preparatory work, with a structure that could support a swimming pool, could start.

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The total cost of the project is estimated at 20.2 million euros. Flemish Minister for Home Administration Bart Somers has confirmed that the Flemish government will contribute 3.4 million euros. The Flemish Community Commission and urban.brussels, an administration whose aim is to support the territorial development of the Region in a sustainable manner, will contribute 4 million euros to the work. The municipality of Anderlecht and various authorities are joining forces for the remaining millions. Funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is also expected. The concept of the outdoor swimming pool is now fully developed and a concrete completion date will be set at a later date.