Mechelen (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): The swimming area in Mechelen has become popular, selling nearly 4,000 tickets this year, almost triple the previous year. The city has worked to improve the area annually. This weekend, swimming is free with online booking required.
It has been said that the swimming event in Mechelen has become popular, with almost 4,000 tickets sold, which is nearly three times more than last year. Abdrahman Labsir, the sports official, says this is because of nice weather, better ads, and more people looking for easy swimming options. The city has been working to make the swimming area better every year, likely adding nicer facilities, improved safety, and maybe new fun activities to draw in more visitors. This weekend on 7th September, the swimming area will be free on Saturday and Sunday, so people can swim without paying. But, everyone needs to book their tickets online first to help keep track of how many are coming for a safe and fun experience.
What challenges did Mechelen face in creating its popular swimming area?
The swimming area in Mechelen started in 2021 as a test project because there was a lot of interest from sports clubs and people who enjoy water sports. Setting it up was not easy and took a lot of planning and teamwork. Abdrahman Labsir, the sports official, said that starting this project required a lot of research by the city’s Sports Team. They worked hard with different partners to make sure everything was safe and followed the rules.
The project had many challenges, especially when issues with PFAS (harmful chemicals that can stay in the environment and affect health) came up. This raised worries about the safety and quality of the water. Because of these concerns, the city had to delay the opening of the swimming area multiple times. Despite these problems, Mechelen became a leader in creating public swimming spaces, being one of the first in the area to do this. The project had to deal with many practical and legal challenges, like testing the water quality, getting the right permits, and handling environmental issues. It has been said that the success of this test project shows that the city is dedicated to improving recreational options for its residents. They mentioned that teamwork and careful planning can help solve unexpected problems, like those caused by harmful substances like PFAS.
The swimming area has been open for three seasons, attracting an average of 57 visitors each day this summer. Alderman Labsir shared that people no longer fear the cold water and that he enjoys jumping in as well. There are regular swimmers and some occasional visitors, making it a valued spot in the community after three years. He highlighted the excellent water quality, which everyone can check online, as an important factor for those interested in a free swimming area. However, the Keerdok is not yet a free swimming zone, so swimming will not be allowed after Sunday, September 8.
