Following the closure of the Geerdegemvaart swimming pool, the City of Mechelen urgently needed additional swimming capacity. Not in a few years’ time, but within the year. Swimwise Pools is therefore constructing four portable swimming pools, providing 900 m² of additional swimming space spread across the city.
moveable swimming pools
3× Swimclad 25m · 1× Double Swimclad 25m
additional swimming water
each pool
water temperature 28–30°C
first swimming pool operational
The Geerdegemvaart swimming pool had to close due to concrete deterioration and an expiring environmental licence. The planned new-build project intended to replace the swimming pool had already been abandoned.
Daarmee ontstond een duidelijke opdracht: op korte termijn voldoende zwemcapaciteit creëren voor scholen, clubs en inwoners.
Eén centraal zwembad volstond niet. De stad wilde het zwemwater spreiden over verschillende buurten, zodat scholen en inwoners minder verplaatsingen hoeven te maken. De infrastructuur moest tegelijk voldoen aan een aantal concrete voorwaarden: volwaardige 25m-banen, geschikt voor schoolzwemmen en clubwerking, toegankelijk voor minder mobiele zwemmers en inpasbaar op bestaande sites zonder zware infrastructuurwerken.
A traditional swimming pool requires a lengthy design, planning permission and construction process. In Mechelen, the need was immediate. A portable swimming pool made it possible to create additional swimming capacity much more quickly.
On-site construction takes just a few days. The entire process, including preparation and planning permission, takes months rather than years.
The infrastructure will remain usable in the longer term as well. If permanent swimming facilities are added at a particular location, or if demand shifts to another neighbourhood, the swimming pool can be relocated.
The unit at Thomas More is a concrete example of this. It was originally planned for the Winketkaai, but was moved to a different location following consultation with the local community. As the infrastructure is relocatable, the project could be adapted accordingly without having to start from scratch.
Swimclad 25m
Capaciteit: 49 zwemmers
Double Swimclad 25m
Capaciteit: 98 zwemmers
Swimclad 25m
Capaciteit: 49 zwemmers
Swimclad 25m
Capaciteit: 49 zwemmers
This will bring swimming waters closer to home for residents of Hombeek and Otterbeek, in areas where the nearest alternative is further away. At Geerdegemvaart, greater capacity will remain available at a location already familiar to many users.
At the Geerdegemvaart site, Mechelen opted for a double Swimclad 25m. This doubles the capacity at a single location to 98 swimmers.
The city does not need to provide an additional site for this. The larger facility uses the same site and centralises the technical infrastructure, whilst the three individual swimming pools ensure geographical distribution.
In this way, Mechelen combines capacity at a central, familiar location with smaller swimming pools closer to the boroughs.
A 25 × 6-metre swimming pool, with a water temperature of 28 to 30 °C.
Biological water treatment without chlorine or other chemical disinfectants in the swimming water. Before the system is put into operation, the filter builds up an active bacterial culture.
Quick to install on site and modular in design, so that the system can be expanded or relocated as local requirements change.
Wheelchair accessible and fitted with a mobile lift.
Separate changing rooms and toilet facilities for each installation.
Thermally insulated for energy-efficient operation.
Swimclad swimming pools use a biological purification system. An active bacterial culture in the filter purifies the water, without the need for chlorine or other chemical disinfectants in the pool itself.
This system requires a short preparation period before the swimming pool can be put into use. Once it has been filled, the filter is given time to build up the necessary bacterial culture. Only then is the pool opened to swimmers.
For users, this means swimming without the typical smell of chlorine and with less risk of irritation caused by chlorine. For the local council, it also means no longer having to use chemical disinfectants in the swimming water.
Mechelen is not waiting until all four swimming pools are ready before admitting the first swimmers. The facilities will be opened in phases.
Zennewater in Hombeek is set to open on 28 September 2026. De Waterlelie on the Geerdegemvaart will follow on 19 October. Next in line are Den Otter in Otterbeek and the swimming pool at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences.
This phased approach makes it possible to make the first swimming facilities available whilst the preparatory work and planning permission processes for the other sites are still ongoing.
Yes. The pools are 25 metres long, are heated to 28–30 °C and have changing rooms and toilet facilities. They can be used for swimming lessons, club activities and recreational swimming.
Whether it’s a temporary solution, extra capacity at an existing site or a swimming facility in a neighbourhood that currently lacks a swimming pool: the right configuration depends on local needs.
Swimwise Pools will work with your board to assess what capacity, location and form of partnership are feasible.
