Oudenaarde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Oudenaarde pool launched a €50 6-months grandparent–grandchild card. Sports councillor Natascha De Meulemester and Sportoase CEO Michael Schouwaerts say it makes swimming cheaper, easier, and could expand across Flanders.
As VRT News reported, starting Friday, Aug 1, 2025, grandparents and their grandchildren can swim together for less money at the Oudenaarde, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, swimming pool. The pool’s operator is testing a new plan to make family visits easier.
Before, both grandparents and grandchildren had to buy their tickets or separate pass cards. Many families thought this was too expensive and too much trouble. Officials mentioned that it also caused problems because most grandchildren do not live at the same address as their grandparents.
Sports Councillor Natascha De Meulemester (Open VLD) said this was the biggest issue families complained about. She explained that the old system stopped many from coming to the pool for fun, as it made things harder than they needed to be.
How will Oudenaarde’s new €50 card help grandparents and grandkids swim cheaper?
The card costs €50 and lasts for 6 months. When signing up, grandparents can list all of their grandchildren on the card. After that, any of them can go swimming together using the same pass. A grandmother might bring one grandchild one day, and a grandfather could take 2 others the next day without buying extra tickets.
The city says this idea will save money for families and make visits easier. It also hopes more grandparents and grandchildren will enjoy the pool together without worrying about extra costs or paperwork.
Earlier this year, Sportoase, the company running the pool, raised entry prices at all its pools in Flanders. Many local people were upset because they felt swimming was becoming too costly for regular visits.
The city of Oudenaarde spoke with Sportoase, and together they agreed to adjust the prices at the Oudenaarde pool again. They mentioned that this was done to make swimming more fair and to answer the concerns of families who wanted to keep coming.
Sportoase’s General Manager, Michael Schouwaerts says the new grandparent–grandchild card is a clear example of what he calls “local customisation.” He explained that each pool has different needs, and this idea was created to suit what people in Oudenaarde wanted.
Schouwaerts said that if the test works well and families use the card often, Sportoase may bring the same offer to other pools in Flanders. He hopes the plan will make it easier for grandparents and grandchildren to swim together and stop rising prices from getting in the way of family visits.
