Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Starting next summer, Bruges will open a swimming site at Langerei near Sasplein. Olivier Strubbe (CD&V) says the site offers quieter, safer facilities with lawns and clear opening hours.
As VRT News reported, starting next summer, residents and visitors will be able to swim in the Langerei in central Bruges near Sasplein. The city decided after residents raised concerns about noise and other disturbances at previous swimming sites.
Olivier Strubbe (CD&V), Alderman for Sports, said that during the last swimming season, opening hours were limited to respond to neighbourhood complaints. Officials searched for an alternative location that could provide safe and accessible swimming while reducing disruption for nearby communities.
How will the new Langerei swimming site improve summer recreation in Bruges?
The new swimming site at Langerei in Bruges offers several clear advantages over the previous location at Coupure. According to officials, there will also be a substantial lawn as a sunbathing area.
The new site will also be more open, which will help limit sound pollution in the adjacent residential neighbourhood. City officials stated that the new site provides a safer and more comfortable experience for swimmers while diminishing annoyance for people in the area.
On June 14th, 2025, the city held a test day to evaluate each site’s viability. Even with a high visitor occupancy, the decibel readings showed fewer notations than those shown at Coupure, indicating that the new location was quieter and better suited for the urban swim program. Officials reported this was a positive evaluation and indicated the adjacent grassy area eliminates the need for wood structures, saving additional costs to the overall project.
