The City of Antwerp is opening up the "Bonapartedok" dock next to the iconic Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) to the public this summer. The project will serve as a test for a permanent open-air swimming zone in the city, something Brussels would also like to achieve.
After being announced over two years ago, people will finally be able to swim in the dock at the MAS in Antwerp starting this weekend. From 28 July, people will be allowed to swim every Sunday afternoon for seven weeks.
"The 'Zalige Zwemdagen' campaign ("Blissful Swimming Days") aims to convince local governments to create more open swimming space," said initiators Waterland and Outdoor Swimming Belgium.
The swimming zone will be marked out with buoys and consist of two parts: a part for swimming laps and a part for recreational swimming. Swimming in the dock will be free of charge but people have to register in advance. A maximum of 100 swimmers will be allowed in the dock per half-hour slot. Children under 12 will not be allowed.
Aerial view of Antwerp with the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) and the dock. Credit: Belga/Eric Lalmand
"We will listen to the feedback and input of swimmers with a view to develop the Bonaparte dock.," Antwerp city councillor for sports Peter Wouters (N-VA) told VRT. "If it can be done safely and is practically feasible, we would like to give Antwerp water sports enthusiasts more open space."
This week, a specialised company used a drone and divers to make sure the dock was clean enough to swim in. A pram, an e-scooter and a bicycle were removed from the water, among other things. "The dock is right next to the MAS so flags from the museum have occasionally blown into the water as well."
Additionally, the water quality in the dock is permanently monitored by the city port. At the request of the Flemish Environment Agency, an accredited laboratory will take additional samples.
"For now it looks good and there is no indication that it cannot go ahead. But one of the Sundays may have to be cancelled if the water quality does not allow it," said Wouters. "Health and safety regulations must be respected, this always applies to swimming in the open air."
What about Brussels?
During these seven Sundays, local authorities across Flanders will test the potential of swimming spots at different locations in the region, said Waterland. "The abundance of water in cities can suddenly become a gigantic extension of our public space, where meeting, relaxation and recreation are central."
Authorities in Brussels are still looking for ways to create public swimming spots aside from the temporary open-air swimming pool FLOW. Its latest project, an open-air pool on the roof of the Manufakture building on the Abattoir site in Anderlecht is slowly nearing completion.
"Brussels is the only European city with more than one million inhabitants that does not have a permanent outdoor swimming pool," State Secretary for Urban Development Ans Persoons told The Brussels Times last week. "With the pool on the Abattoir site, we can play catch-up and make Brussels a cooler city."
