Leuven completes €12.5M renovation of Vaartkom banks

Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Renovation of Leuven’s Vaartkom banks (€12.5M) is complete, featuring wooden platforms, a square, and a water garden. Mayor Ridouani and Alderman Vansina highlight its boost to recreation, social life, and waterfront appeal.

As VRT News reported, the renovation of the Vaartkom banks in Leuven is almost complete. Workers finished the main construction just before the official unveiling. Only a few small details remain, including a staircase to the water garden. Mayor Ridouani and Alderman Dirk Vansina (CD&V) said the project has transformed the area.

“It’s the culmination of a rebirth for the Vaartkom,”

says Vansina.

“That sounds like an exaggeration, but this used to be an old industrial site that was avoided. Now people can live, work, and relax here again.”

How will Leuven’s €12.5M Vaartkom bank renovation transform public life?

The final phase of the Vaartkom renovation in Leuven included the construction of 2 large wooden platforms, a central square, and a water garden. The wooden platforms are designed for multiple uses. Several small events are already planned on the platforms, and city officials expect many more to follow. 

“Children can walk on the stepping stones and stand with their feet in the water,”

says Vansina.

“That’s not the water from the Vaart canal, but a separate stream that purifies itself.”

This idea faced criticism from residents and the opposition. The Leuven N-VA party described it as an unnecessary prestige project costing €12.5 million. Mayor Ridouani acknowledged the lack of support for the initial design and explained that the project was adjusted accordingly.

“There was indeed insufficient support,”

says Ridouani.

“We adjusted the project, and that was the right decision. Nobody wants to end up in trench warfare. A legal battle could have stopped this wonderful project.” 

The renovation of the Vaartkom banks in Leuven is part of a larger urban renewal project that began in 2022. The project included new walking paths, seating areas, terraces, and green spaces, with multiple phases completed over the past 3 years. 

Initial plans for the water garden as a swimming area were proposed in early 2023, but faced opposition from residents and political parties, leading city officials to redesign it as a recreational and playful water garden.