Belgium's biggest bouldering centre yet will open in Ghent later this year. The sport has shot up in popularity since gaining Olympic recognition in 2021.
An old factory building will house the centre, which will offer 200 climbing courses and join an already-bustling building featuring a paintball course, a rooftop restaurant, an indoor playground and a boxing ring.
"It will be the largest in the country with 1,250 square meters of climbing wall surface," Paintball Ghent founders and brothers Bram and Pieter Bruyland told VRT. "Bouldering is popular – the Ghent climbing halls are always packed, especially since it became an Olympic sport in 2021."
Hannes van Duysen, a 19-year-old from East Flanders, will represent Belgium in the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. "That will give the sport an extra boost," said the Bruyland brothers.
The Galveston building, constructed in 1910, operated as a textiles factory until 1999. Almost €1.2 million has been invested in its new function, with Flanders contributing around 23% (€269,000) to the overall sum.
Brussels has its fair share of bouldering centres too. There are currently 19 centres in the Capital Region. The new centre in Ghent, named 'Walden', will open at the end of October.
