ANTWERP | €100,000 allocated for permanent swimming pool and docks in Bonapartedok

Flemish Minister for Sport Annick De Ridder (N-VA) has released €100,000 to develop a permanent swimming zone in the Bonapartedok by the Museum Aan de Stroom (Museum At the Stream, MAS). The grant will fund the installation of a pool, including a paddling area for toddlers.

The demand for outdoor swimming facilities in Antwerp remains high. While the city currently has two such sites – De Molen on Linkeroever and the swimming pond in Boekenberg – officials say this is insufficient. In response, Antwerp launched a pilot swimming project in the Bonapartedok during the summer of 2023, followed by several successful editions.

The city now plans to establish a permanent swimming zone in the dock. The total cost is estimated at €453,750, with the Flemish Government contributing €100,000. These funds will be used to make the docks safe and accessible, including the installation of a mobile pool lift, a feature particularly requested by swimmers with limited mobility. These improvements are expected to be completed by this summer.

A shallow swimming pool, with a depth of 50 centimetres, is planned for the dock but will not be ready until the summer of 2027. This will allow even the youngest children to enjoy open-air swimming safely.

Antwerp is currently seeking an operator for the Bonapartedok swimming facility, as swimming will only be permitted under supervision. Discussions with the operator will determine the swimming schedule, with the possibility of year-round access for those seeking a refreshing dip in the shadow of the MAS. 

Sportoase, which managed the dock’s swimming zone last year, also operates pools in the Veldstraat in Antwerp-North and in Groot Schijn, Deurne.

Last summer, nearly 12,000 swimmers took to the Bonapartedok over 28 days.

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