Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Mechelen will keep the Geerdegemvaart pool open with 4-week repairs until the Hofstade Olympic pool, planned by Sport Vlaanderen for 2030, is ready, says Alderman Abdrahman Labsir.
As VRT News reported, Mechelen will keep the Mechelen will keep Geerdegemvaart pool open until Hofstade Olympic open until a new Olympic swimming complex is built in Hofstade. The decision was confirmed during the most recent city council meeting.
Alderman for Sports Abdrahman Labsir (For Mechelen) said the city will carry out essential repairs at the existing pool. The works will include technical and structural updates to keep the facility safe and operational.
What plans does Mechelen have for the Geerdegemvaart pool before the 2030 Hofstade Olympic pool?
The Olympic pool in Hofstade is being developed in cooperation with Sport Vlaanderen. It will feature a 50-meter Olympic-standard pool, training areas, and modern facilities for both athletes and the public.
“We want to ensure that the swimming pool on the Geerdegemvaart can remain open until a new pool is built in Hofstade. Sport Vlaanderen has plans for a new Olympic pool there, which would be ready in 2030. We are exploring that option and want to invest in it,”
says Labsir.
The repairs are expected to last about 4 weeks, but a start date has not been set. Alderman for Sports Abdrahman Labsir said the city will coordinate with schools and swimming clubs to choose the best timing.
“We want to contribute financially so that Mechelen residents can also swim there at a favourable rate. The amount is not yet known,”
says Labsir.
The city is exploring options with the provincial domain De Nekker to provide more affordable swimming opportunities for residents. Talks are ongoing, and no agreement has been finalised yet. All plans will be confirmed in December 2025, when the municipal council votes on the multi-year plan. That vote will set the schedule for the Geerdegemvaart repairs and any cooperation with De Nekker.
Since its inception in the 1970s, the Geerdegemvaart pool has been an important public facility for Mechelen, accommodating school swimming lessons, local clubs and recreational users for many years. It has undergone only minor maintenance in this time, but no major works. Plans for a new Olympic swimming pool in Hofstade were first announced in 2020 as part of the city’s long-term sports infrastructure strategy.
