FLOW is the first public outdoor pool in 40 years!

Brussels is one of the few European cities that doesn't have any possibilities for open air swimming. POOL IS COOL wants to change that and has been striving since 2015 to reintroduce public outdoor swimming in Brussels. After several initiatives in recent years, outdoor swimming is finally back in Brussels with FLOW!

While the Brussels’ authorities are finally considering plans for swimming places, POOL IS COOL is not waiting for these projects to be realised in a few years' time. We believe that the urgency of the lack of open-air swimming should be addressed immediately. The past hot summers in combination with the Corona pandemic which confined people to their hometowns underlined the need for public places for refreshment in Brussels. That is why this summer we are realising FLOW together with a coalition of Flemish and Brussels partners and supporters who will make sure the pool can really become a reality.

FLOW is a temporary outdoor pool at the canal in Anderlecht. It measures 17 x 7 m. A swimming pool of this size offers the possibility of real swimming. At the same time, the water will be sufficiently shallow to guarantee a safe water experience for young people and children. There are changing rooms, showers and every commodity that belongs to an outdoor pool. On the sun decks you can warm up after swimming and enjoy the atmosphere around the pool. FLOW has a capacity of about 200 swimmers per day, depending on the Covid measures in vigour.

The pool is open for everyone in the afternoon, free of charge. You can book a time slot up to 3 days in advance at the pool or via www.flow.brussels. Prior reservation is necessary to guarantee a pleasant and safe experience for all swimmers. There will be sessions for women only and swimming classes for children and adults.

FLOW also fulfils a number of social ambitions besides being a public pool, such as employing young people from Brussels who are keen to contribute to the project. Thanks to local initiatives FLOW will offer a variety of cultural activities like concerts and movie nights that make use of the infrastructure of the pool. Involving local residents is important to create shared ownership, avoid conflicts and have a positive impact on the image of this neighbourhood in transition.

FLOW must be a prototype for the swimming places to come, proving that outdoor swimming is necessary and possible in Brussels. In our dreams, it is a model for a permanent swimming pool in Biestebroeck, like a floating pool in the canal.

A broadly-based project

POOL IS COOL joined forces with Decoratelier, Art2Work, FIX, Ecoworks and Speculoos + Variable to develop, build and run the first public outdoor pool in Brussels. Each of the partners is responsible for a specific aspect of FLOW such as design, identity and construction, management, technical infrastructures and communication, under the coordination of POOL IS COOL. Additional cultural programs are organized by Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Zinnema and Cinema Galeries.

The complexity of a swimming pool project is also reflected in the support the project receives. FLOW relies on the Flemish Government, the Flemish Community Commission, the Brussels Government, Brussels Environment, Brussels Mobility, urban.brussels, the Port of Brussels, the Commune of Anderlecht and several generous sponsors.

All of them see their ambitions represented in FLOW:

FLOW was built by many hands. To make this possible we went for a modular design. In Decoratelier (Molenbeek) a large group of local youth gathered during a few weeks to work on the parts together. Because of this FLOW is more than just a swimming pool. During and after construction, conversations took place about public space, privacy, police brutality and exclusion. Just last year these young people were barred from the Belgian coast; this year they are building a radically inclusive swimming spot in their own city. A body of water in and around which we might come together again. Jozef Wouters, Decoratelier

Jozef Wouters, Decoratelier

ART2WORK dives into the FLOW pool with enthusiasm. In addition to the joys of summer swimming, there are many opportunities for young people from the canal districts. A good experience increases their chances on the labour market. In June, we provide technical support for the construction. In July and August, about twenty students take over the daily management of the pool. These young people are related to various local youth structures: Maison de Quartier Heyvaert - MOVE, Peterbos - D'Broej, Service de prévention d'Anderlecht. The young people make "their" swimming pool for all the inhabitants of Brussels.

Wim Embrechts, ART2WORK

FIX is happy to contribute to FLOW with its teams. Our FIX workers are Brussels citizens who roll up their sleeves to make their city a better place.

We do this by renovating public facilities all over Brussels. An outdoor swimming pool brings the people of Brussels closer together and the FIX'ers will also be able to enjoy it to the full. Moreover, in this process, the FIX workers will learn many new techniques that will be of great value in their later search for work.

FIX Brussels

I am delighted that a temporary outdoor swimming pool is going to be added to the numerous events that will take place this summer in Brussels, bringing our Region back to life after several long months of lockdown. What makes this project even more meaningful to me, is that it will get its place in a socially mixed neighbourhood that is undergoing major changes. I hope that the FLOW project will allow the Brusselites as well as the tourists to find some refreshment this summer alongside the canal!

Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region

Shared public space gives oxygen to the people of Brussels. The importance of this project is huge: not only does it provide a high-quality and safe sports infrastructure, but it also explicitly focuses on connecting with the neighbourhood and the residents. I am convinced that many Brussels residents have been looking forward to this for a long time. It is an absolute surplus value for the city, it brings us closer together and gives perspective on a beautiful and hopefully more carefree summer. I am therefore particularly pleased that we, as the Flemish Government, are able to put our shoulders under this.

Benjamin Dalle, Flemish minister for Brussels, Youth and Media

I am delighted that the inhabitants of Brussels can take a dip in an open-air swimming pool, relax and cool off in the summer. Water has an essential role to play in the city, as a climate regulator, as a place to walk and to recharge your batteries, but also as a recreational infrastructure. That is why I am working with the Brussels government to create a permanent outdoor swimming area in Brussels. This Pool is Cool project is a great step in this direction.

Alain Maron, Brussels Minister of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Participatory Democracy

Sven Gatz, Brussels Minister of Finance and Budget, Promotion of the Image of Brussels has been yearning for the return of an open air pool for years. Whilst the plans for this project are definitely in the making, we do salute the present initiative of Pool is cool, and support it with subsidies in the context of the Brussels Government’s policies for promoting the Image of Brussels. This multi-partnered project is clear evidence of the Brussels will to build a better city.

Sven Gatz, Brussels Minister of Finance and Budget, Promotion of the Image of Brussels

The lockdowns during this pandemic and the heatwaves in the past summers have made it increasingly clear that there is a pressing need in Brussels for more public areas where people can relax and refresh themselves. This project, along with the implementation of a new circulation plan to have calmer traffic in the neighbourhood, will make for a peaceful new spot for young and old to enjoy during the summer holidays.

Elke Van den Brandt, Brussels Minister for Mobility

During the COVID crisis, it became clearer than ever that our residents need relaxation and outdoor activities close to their home. In the Biestebroeck neighbourhood, we have plenty of open space to welcome such initiatives, and initiators like Pool is Cool see the potential in a developing neighbourhood. To build a great summer here, various services are working together to create a car-free zone around youth, cultural and sports activities, and there is consultation and coordination with the police and prevention. With this, we are laying the foundation for a new, dynamic development of the district and, by extension, the entire municipality. More news in the coming weeks about what you can expect this summer!

Fabrice Cumps, Mayor of Anderlecht