Brussels' shimmering oasis on the Anderlecht canal is finally closing on 1 June. Looking back over four years, the pool's main coordinator spoke to The Brussels Times about why the project has come to an end and why the city is so in need of outdoor swimming spots.
Until a few years ago, there was nowhere to swim outdoors in the Belgian capital on a hot summer's day. The only obvious option was to follow the swarms of people and brave the crowded train carriages to the coast. But in September 2014, architect and water recreation expert Paul Steinbrück decided to change this and co-founded his non-profit POOL IS COOL.
Everything's political
Originally from Germany, Steinbrück says swimming outdoors is something he grew up with and was surprised to see the concept didn't even exist in Brussels. He doesn't class himself as particularly sporty or a strong swimmer, but rather wanted the city to benefit from an outdoor pool for the social aspect.
Most of his team had a background in urban architecture too, so they decided to put their skills to use and "make a political story out of it". The idea was to prove to the authorities that the concept worked and show there was a demand for it – in the hope that politicians and administrations would take this on board.
They never expected to build or manage the pool themselves: "We naïvely thought we could create some nice graphics and write a good proposal, and then convince politicians and administrations to take the lead and build a swimming spot. But, of course, it doesn't work like that."
So the team got to work and initiated some smaller projects. In 2017, they collaborated with Brussels' Centre for Fine Arts, Bozar, to create a small swimming container in front of the building. But to get the message across, they needed to go bigger, and in 2019, developments started for Brussels' first outdoor swimming pool, 'FLOW'. "Then Covid struck and everything got delayed," Steinbrück says. "That wasn't such a bad thing though, because it gave us time to reflect and improve and get more partners on board with more expertise."
Once they found their design partner Decoratelier, the rest was smooth sailing: the design was completed within half a year and the construction took a month. FLOW officially opened on 1 July 2021.
Year on year, the project has evolved. From starting with a chlorine-based water treatment system to switching to a chemical-free, plant-based water purification system in 2023, to adding a kiosk for post-swim drinks and snacks and even a sauna last year, the POOL IS COOL team has conceptualised innovative ways to attract more visitors and spread their political message. They also introduced winter swimming with the new water system – "and to our big surprise, it was a huge success! Around 200 people would come for a quick dip on a Sunday morning in the winter," Steinbrück enthuses.
Credit: POOL IS COOL
End of an era
But nothing lasts forever. On 22 April, POOL IS COOL announced that FLOW would be closing its doors. Why bring an end to something so good?
In short: politics. Brussels has been without a government for almost a year, following the 9 June elections in 2024. The current political palaver plays a role in FLOW's closure on a couple of levels.
Firstly, the project was mainly funded by public subsidies, and without a government the non-profit hasn't been granted the funding it needs to survive. Secondly, FLOW was only meant to be temporary prototype – now run down as it was built with cheap materials – to pave the way for government-led projects.
"Closing FLOW is a wake-up call. We've been making this statement for five years and we had dreamt that other projects would have developed by now, but all prospective projects have failed."
One such project was scrapped last week, much to the frustration of residents. Plans to construct an open-air swimming pool in the Brussels canal near Tour & Taxis had been in the works since 2009. On Tuesday, however, City Councillor Florence Frelinx (MR) announced that the "unrealistic" project would no longer go ahead. Frelinx also questioned whether Brussels "really needs" a 350-metre-long swimming pool, and concluded that "it is not responsible to continue with it in this form."
According to Steinbrück, this shows the "annoying way that the development process usually goes two steps forward, one step back." He sighs at the Councillor's "ridiculous" communication – "not stating any facts, but just concerns as reasons to stop this project before actually studying its feasibility."
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The same goes for FLOW, which had plenty of support from ministers across the political spectrum, but once budget and other challenges came into play it became "ideologically difficult," says Steinbrück. "Everyone likes the idea of outdoor swimming and understands that we need it, but once the projects become concrete, people raise questions and have no interest in properly researching it."
Steinbrück stresses that this isn't just the case for outdoor swimming, but an array of other projects – such as mobility and housing – which have struggled to bear fruit due to Brussels' complex character, with its different language groups, communes, and communities. And a lack of government only exacerbates the issue. "Brussels politicians are unable to get behind ideas together, even if their political opponent is in favour of it."
Ultimately, the non-profit co-founder says "the solution cannot be up to us and our non-governmental approach" and "decisions like the one [on Tuesday] show that apparently politics still haven't really understood the urgency of the issue."
Why does Brussels need outdoor swimming spaces?
Despite Frelinx questioning the necessity for the Brussels canal pool on Tuesday, Steinbrück maintains that Brussels needs outdoor swimming spots – just like any other city. "In today's segregated societies, they are one of the few places which bring all kinds of people together, based on a shared enjoyment of refreshment and having a nice time outdoors."
The pool acts as a catalyst to bring people together, he continues. People spend less time in the water and more time together, reading a book, having a chat, lying in the sun, or having a drink. "It's intercultural, accessible, something for all ages, and good for your physical and mental health."
The demand for outdoor swimming is evident, as when the non-profit asked swimmers to share their memories ahead of the closure, they received over 180 responses. One visitor, Cédric Vander Stukken, posted: "It is, or unfortunately was, a very nice initiative, and it's a real shame that it's being discontinued. Brussels urgently needs more public space; people are struggling. Hopefully, this will finally be addressed, and residents will be prioritised over businesses and profit."
But as much as visitors would like it to remain, FLOW is also just a "drop on the ocean," Steinbrück says. "You need much bigger places in a city such as Brussels with more than a million inhabitants."
Credit: POOL IS COOL
As the closing date (Sunday 1 June) edges closer, the pool's main coordinator feels increasingly despondent. It wasn't always easy – they had their fair share of vandalism, theft and technical problems – but he is comforted by "how much our little self-made prototype meant to people."
To mark the end of an era, POOL IS COOL is hosting a variety of events this week, with 'aquagym', live concerts, yoga, pool parties and more on the agenda. Find the full programme here.
What's next for the non-profit? Building pools is only one solution, so the co-founder wants to focus on what else the city has to offer, such as fountains and underground water sources.
"We want to explore new ways of dealing with water and swimming, to also free us from the constraints of politics. We also want the freedom and time to reflect on it." But in any case, he assures us that his work is not over yet.
