Eeklo starts swimming pilot project at Kop van de Vaart

Eeklo (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In 2024, the city council initiated a pilot project for swimming at ‘Kop van de Vaart,’ led by Alderman Gertjan Blomme, focusing on safety and environmental cleanup, aiming for full development by 2026.

In 2024, the city council started a pilot project for swimming at ‘Kop van de Vaart.’ They wanted to create a safe and fun place for residents. Alderman Gertjan Blomme said it was important to have a lifeguard, even though it is not required by law. 

He warned that swimming in open water can be dangerous because the top layer is warm, but the water below is cold. He mentioned that this can cause thermal shock. To keep swimmers safe, the city will check the water quality often to ensure it is safe for everyone.

“Swimming in open water is more dangerous than in warm pool water,”

Says Blomme.

What environmental improvements are planned for Kop van de Vaart?

According to authorities, the city also noticed the need to fix environmental problems at the swimming site. Blomme said the canal needed cleaning because trash collects at the end. To address this, the city spoke with the Flemish Waterway authorities to create a good cleanup plan. 

By focusing on these environmental and safety issues, the city wanted to make a safe and enjoyable swimming area for everyone. They mentioned that if the pilot project works well, the city plans to develop ‘Kop van de Vaart’ into a full swimming area by 2026. 

“The canal will also need to be cleaned up a bit because at the end of the canal, some garbage accumulates,”

He said.

In 2023, the Flemish government made it easier for towns to create outdoor swimming areas. A local city council looked at seven spots for swimming. They considered Vrombautput, Het Leen, Nieuwendorpebrug, Berlaarssteiger, Raverschootbrug, and the jetty in Balgerhoeke. However, these places were either in protected nature areas or near busy water routes. They mentioned that this created safety and environmental concerns. Because of this, these locations were not chosen for swimming.

The city has decided that ‘Kop van de Vaart’ is the best place for outdoor swimming. This location is a quiet part of the Schipdonkkanaal. It is next to an industrial area, but it has fewer environmental issues than other spots. Authorities mentioned that the area is safe for swimmers because there is no boat traffic. This helps to avoid accidents in the water. 

They mentioned that the nearby industrial zone does not create major problems for swimming. It does not harm the environment significantly. They also want to make sure they follow rules to protect nature. 

“I want to test what is possible at ‘Kop van de Vaart’ this summer,”

Says Alderman Blomme.

“The intention is that swimming will be possible there about 4 days a week from the end of June. There are already jetties and we can transform the lawn in front of it into a sunbathing and sitting area.”

The last city council did not approve these swimming spots because of safety concerns. They wanted to wait for a plan that would show where swimming could be allowed along the Schipdonkkanaal. However, Gertjan Blomme wanted to move forward without waiting. He suggested starting a pilot project at ‘Kop van de Vaart’ in the summer. 

According to Gertjan Blomme, the goal was to allow swimming about four days a week starting at the end of June 2024. The plans included using the existing docks and turning the nearby lawn into a place for sunbathing and relaxing. Alderman Blomme stressed that it was important to test if outdoor swimming could work at this location.