Brussels' only open-air pool, FLOW, located in Anderlecht, will welcome cold-water swimmers for three more weeks before closing to prepare for the summer season.
The bathing spot, an initiative of POOL IS COOL, is located at the Pierre Marchant bridge in Anderlecht. It first opened to the public in 2021 and has since become locals' favourite spot to cool down in the summer months until early September.
Since 31 December last year, the courageous have been invited to take a cold dip in the pool. Despite the weather being miserable at best in Belgium in the past months, more than 2,000 swimmers have taken the plunge over the last few months.
The most popular day was 14 January, dubbed by the organisation as "ice swimming day". The water was as cold as 2°C with a thick layer of ice on the surface. Temperatures outdoors barely crept above freezing.
Swimming on 14 January. Credit: POOL IS COOL
With the weather now slightly warmer, even more swimmers are expected to visit the open-air bathing spot. The pool will continue to open its doors every Sunday from 10:00 until noon until 2 June. "We will then close to prepare FLOW for the summer season, which will start on 1 July," POOL IS COOL noted.
From July, it will be open every day of the week until 19:00 during the summer season. Usually, mornings from Tuesday to Friday are reserved for organisations to plan group swimming sessions for free, while during weekends, the mornings have in the past been reserved for (free) swimming lessons for children, teenagers and adults.
People are advised to book their 45-minute time slot 24 hours in advance, especially on days with nice weather. A reservation fee of €3 is charged for adults and €2 for children.
