From outdoor pools to natural ponds and lakes, The Bulletin takes a dip in the places around the country where water babies can enjoy the joys of safe outdoor swimming whatever their age.
Brussels
Unlike other major European cities, the capital remains without a permanent outdoor swimming pool. Summer is around the corner, and the city still has only sporadic plans to rectify the situation.
Meanwhile, Pool is Cool – a local organisation campaigning to change this sorry state of affairs, is gearing up for its fourth season of FLOW. Albeit quite small (17m x 7m), this free pool (pictured) allows Brussels dwellers the chance to swim outside. The charming home-made pop-up piscine on the Anderlecht canal has a summer bar and also entertains with a social programme, from fitness classes and swimming lessons to films.
The nonprofit spearheaded ‘Expedition Swim’ last year. Under this project, but for only one weekend, you could take a dip at Anderlecht’s Neerpede ponds, Boitfort’s les PĂȘcheries and the Bois de la Cambre lake. However, some locals were critical, fearing that their natural beauty spot would become overrun, and it is not certain that a similar scheme will take place this summer.
Meanwhile, the group’s crowdfunding campaign ‘Je Veux Nager’ wants to raise €60,000 for a permanent open-air swimming pool in the capital. The abattoirs/slaughterhouse site at Curegem is one proposal.
Until then, residents and tourists have only sports clubs such as Aspria’s Royal La Rasante; the fitness group also has plans for a new outdoor pool. Otherwise, hotels like the Jam Hotel in Saint-Gilles and Jardin Secret in Ixelles (pictured) – both sporting bijou outdoor pools – are also an option.
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