Heule (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A new €5 million building has officially opened at De Warande in Heule, near Kortrijk, adding 150 beds, an 800 m² covered play zone, and an animal meadow. Main figures are Depraetere, Veys.
As VRT News reported, the De Warande play area in Heule, a submunicipality in Kortrijk, Belgium, has just opened a new building. They mentioned that the new building at De Warande is a big improvement, designed to help the growing number of people who use the area.
It has rooms that can be used for different things, and each room opens right to the playground outside. The building also has bathrooms, a kitchen, a first aid room, and rooms for storage and leaders. According to officials, a big change is more places to sleep, with 150 beds now available.
How has De Warande in Heule become a top spot for kids?
According to officials, De Warande in Heule added a big, covered play area, about 800 square meters, so kids can play no matter the weather. There’s also a new animal meadow with stables. They’ve increased the camping spots for youth groups, with room for 150 people in tents.
“Total project cost the city of Kortrijk around 5 million euros, a fifth of which was paid for with Flemish subsidies. Affordable camps and holidays for children are a top priority for me,” says Melissa Depraetere (Vooruit), Flemish Minister of Youth and Tourism.
“De Warande is a big deal for tourism and kids in Kortrijk”, says Maxim Veys. Maxim Veys mentioned that it’s so popular that it accounts for 15% of all overnight stays in the city each year. It’s the only place of its size in the area between Roeselare, Deinze, and the Westhoek where groups can stay overnight.
“De Warande is a big deal for tourism and kids in Kortrijk”, says Maxim Veys.
He said that it’s a spot for school trips, summer camps, and local kids who want a safe place to play. Melissa Depraetere says De Warande gives thousands of kids great memories every year. They keep making it better to make sure all kids in the area can have fun.
According to officials, this is part of a big plan to make the area better, which started in 2010. Now, De Warande is a big space of 8.5 hectares. About 60,000 people visit each year, including kids from schools and summer camps. It’s not just a playground anymore. There’s a safe bike path to Kortrijk, so kids can get there easily. They also share a parking lot with nearby groups.
