Nemo 33 to expand with outdoor pool, windmill, hotel

The Brussels municipality of Uccle has granted an environmental permit to diving centre Nemo 33. The multi-purpose indoor diving facility is to expand with the addition of an open-air diving pit designed to look like a water-filled quarry, a windmill, a hotel with 35 rooms and parking for about 100 cars.

As one of the deepest pools in the world, Nemo 33 attracts divers from neighbouring countries, which gave owner John Beernaerts the idea to build a hotel on top of the existing structure, writes brusselnieuws.be. Beernaerts received the necessary planning and environmental permits on 1 October.

It is not yet known how deep will the new diving quarry will be. "When we started digging for Nemo 33, we encountered unexpected stability problems," he said in Le Soir. "We'll be happy if the new diving tank is at least 15 meters deep. What I do know is that the water will not be treated, so it will take on a more natural envioronment, which we can use to train professional divers."

To provide some of the electricity for the complex, Beernaerts will also install a wind turbine.

Some local residents have lodged an appeal with Uccle against the environmental permit, fearing mobility problems around the complex as a result of the planned parking spaces. The municipality now has 60 days to announce their decision. Should the objection be rejected, the owners of Nemo 33 would like to start work on the project soon.