Heusden-Zolder (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Heusden-Zolder will invest £67m in a new administrative centre, merge services, improve mobility with cycle paths, build a swimming pool, and upgrade the mine site, says Mayor Mario Borremans.
As VRT News reported, Heusden-Zolder, in the province of Limburg, Belgium, will merge all its administrative services into one new, large centre. The municipality will invest £67m in this project. Most offices will move under one roof.
“We’re going to carry out some renovations to the town hall to ensure everyone can come here safely and comfortably,”
says Mayor Mario Borremans (GOED).
What are Heusden-Zolder’s £67M plans for services, mobility, and sports?
The new administrative centre will also house the Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW). Social services will operate alongside other municipal departments. The current Heusden police station will be closed. Borremans, a municipal spokesperson, says the centre will make municipal services more accessible.
“We’re going to merge with the Beringen-Ham-Tessenderlo zone,”
explains the mayor.
“We’ll then open a district office at the town hall.”
Heusden-Zolder will spend a large part of its budget on improving mobility in the town. “New cycle paths and slow-moving roads are being constructed,”
says Borremans.
“This way, we want to promote cyclists and pedestrians in our municipality.”
The city also aims to become the most sporting town in Flanders. Heusden-Zolder will continue hosting major sporting events and improving local sports facilities. A new swimming pool will be built for recreation and competitive use. The former mine site will also be upgraded. A site manager will be appointed to develop and promote the area. The upgraded site will allow for events and community activities.
“In addition to our outdoor pool, there will also be an indoor pool. We want our children to be able to learn to swim here,”
says Borremans.
Heusden-Zolder was created in 1977 when the former towns of Heusden and Zolder merged. In the 1980s and 1990s, the focus was on redeveloping old industrial areas after the coal mines closed, including the Zolder mine, which shut down in 1992. In 2000, the town started building sports facilities and community spaces to attract visitors and support local recreation. By 2015, Heusden-Zolder began upgrading roads and public transport to improve mobility.
