Koksijde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The city of Koksijde seeks to construct a modern indoor swimming pool facility. The Koksijde Dorp swimming pool Hoge Blekker shows significant signs of outdated infrastructure because personnel need to support the deteriorating rooftop structure.
Koksijde municipality plans to construct an indoor swimming pool adjacent to Hoge Blekker pool in Koksijde-Dorp. A replacement for the outdated pool becomes necessary because its roof requires immediate support. Mayor Sander Loones plans to reduce costs for residents by using parking revenue to obtain subsidies for the facility, which has an estimated €17 million in construction value. The municipality strives to preserve vital swimming facilities by undertaking this project because swimming proficiency holds great significance in coastal locations.
“There are indeed costs, certainly for the building around the swimming pool. The roof is currently being propped up,”
Explains Mayor Sander Loones (Samen met Sander).
“So a new swimming pool has to be built, but that costs a lot of money. About 17 million euros.”
Many municipalities invest together in a swimming pool, but that is difficult on the West Coast.
“De Panne, Veurne and Nieuwpoort have their own swimming pool and they are completely full. With swimming clubs, diving clubs, water polo clubs … As a coastal municipality, it is important anyway that all residents learn to swim well, because our largest swimming pool is the sea.”
“We do that in two ways. Firstly, with government money. I am busy asking Flemish Minister of Sports Annick De Ridder (N-VA) for subsidies. That is about 3 to 4 million.”
“We also want to use the proceeds from our parking policy. We could finance another 7 million with that. Then we would have to find another 6 to 7 million euros in our budget.”
Koksijde wants to build the new pool next to the old one so that the old pool can remain open while the new one is being built.
“We want it to stay in Koksijde-Dorp, but a bit closer to the Houtsaegerlaan. The pool is now on a bicycle street and that is not ideal. All cars that have to go to and from the pool now pass in that bicycle street.”
The opposition wants Golf Ter Hille to be expanded immediately, but according to Loones, that is not realistic.
“The previous board promised that it was possible to do both, build a swimming pool and expand the golf course. It was also said at the time that the expansion of the golf course would cost 9 million, but in reality it would be much more.”
“We also have to renew the coastal path and all the sea dikes, which will cost millions of euros. Then you have to make choices and our choice is clear: first a new swimming pool, then the expansion of the golf course. It will also take years before all the procedures for the permits have been completed.”
What is the current state of Koksijde’s swimming infrastructure and coastal needs?
Koksijde maintains two swimming facilities in Belgium, which include an indoor Hoge Blekker pool at Koksijde-Dorp and an outdoor pool at Oostduinkerke. The Hoge Blekker pool exists in poor condition because its roof rests propped up for continued functionality.
As Koksijde is situated on the coast and water safety remains important, both swimming facilities serve critical functions for the community. The municipality emphasises the need for residents to learn to swim, as the sea remains the largest natural “pool” in the area.
Several neighbouring towns, including De Panne, Veurne and Nieuwpoort, possess swimming pools, but all these facilities reach maximum capacity because swimming clubs alongside aquatic sports teams need their pools. The proposed pool construction by Koksijde operates in harmony with the town’s ongoing infrastructure projects like coastal path renewal and sea dike maintenance, which need substantial funding.
