Herenthout (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Herenthout’s athletics track is open again from morning to evening, with an amusement‑park‑style gate. Acting Mayor Machteld Ledegen says it deters mopeds and vandals while allowing safe daytime use.
As VRT News reported, the athletics track in Herenthout, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, is open again, but new rules now apply. People can use the track from morning until evening, but the gates are locked once the staff leaves for the day. The town made this change after mopeds damaged the track a few months ago.
“The lock is similar to the entrance gate to an amusement park attraction.”
Acting Mayor Machteld Ledegen (Unity-N-VA)
How will Herenthout’s track stay safe with Ledegen’s new gate?
Herenthout has put a new gate at the athletics track to keep it safe. Now, runners and walkers can still get in, but bikes and mopeds are not allowed. Acting Mayor Machteld Ledegen said the gate is similar to those at amusement parks. People walk through narrow paths with sharp turns. Only someone on foot can pass.
Officials mentioned that the track can stay open for runners, schools, and sports clubs while troublemakers are kept out. The town hopes that by mixing daytime access with this smart design, the track will stay safe for many years, and the damage from before will not happen again.
3 months ago, the new athletics track at the ’t Kapelleke sports complex in Herenthout was damaged after a group of moped riders was filmed driving over it like a racetrack. Their tires left clear marks on the surface of the track, which cost €1.1 million to build and had only been opened the September 2024, with help from the municipality and Sport Vlaanderen.
The local council was upset by what happened and quickly went to the Neteland police to file a complaint. They also promised to act fast so the same thing would not happen again. For several weeks after the damage, the track stayed closed whenever no staff were around, while the town worked on a safer plan to protect it, but still let athletes and local groups use it during the day.
