Schaerbeek swimming pool to reopen after long renovation

The Neptunium swimming pool in the Brussels neighbourhood of Schaerbeek will finally reopen on 18 September after more than five years of renovations.

The municipal pool will hold a celebration to inaugurate the renovated swim spot on Saturday 16 September, Bruzz reports.

The festivities include aquagym sessions, diving, underwater hockey, demonstrations, a performance of synchronised swimming and guided tours of the renovated facilities.

On the Place Houffalize outside, food trucks, music and creative workshops will be on offer.

Neptunium has been a neighbourhood pool since 1953 and the renovations were intended to improve its energy efficiency and meet current standards of safety and hygiene.

The works began in 2017 but were postponed a number of times as it was revealed that even more renovations were needed than initially expected. The roof had to be replaced and contractors encountered asbestos and waterproofing problems.

The reopening of Neptunium means that 13 of the 15 municipal swimming pools in Brussels will soon be open.

The Ixelles pool is still closed and the Victor Boin pool in Saint-Gilles closed at the end of April for works that will take about three years.