East Flanders Swimming Ponds Fully Booked; Province Urges Advance Reservations

East Flanders' provincial swimming ponds experienced overwhelming demand on Whit Monday, marking the busiest day of the extended holiday weekend. All available spots were reportedly filled by midday, prompting provincial officials to issue a strong recommendation for visitors to book their places in advance, particularly during periods of hot weather. This measure aims to prevent unnecessary travel and potential disappointment for those arriving without reservations.

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All swimming ponds were completely full from midday.

Deputé Dagmar Beernaert reported that approximately 5,000 people visited the swimming ponds across the provincial domains, including De Ster in Sint-Niklaas, De Gavers in Geraardsbergen, and Nieuwdonk in Berlare. Despite the large crowds, Beernaert noted that the day passed peacefully. However, she emphasized the importance of pre-booking to ensure a smooth experience for both visitors and staff, highlighting that turning away families in the heat can lead to frustration and conflict.

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To prevent unnecessary visits, we ask that you reserve in advance, especially during hot weather.

To manage the influx, a new, comprehensive counting system has been implemented. Preliminary comparisons with the previous year show a near doubling of visitors at the De Ster domain, suggesting a surge in the popularity of these recreational areas. In contrast, the swimming pools at the Puyenbroeck domain in Wachtebeke remained less crowded, likely due to the concurrent Nerdland festival, which may have deterred some visitors.

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In total, we had 5,000 people in our swimming ponds.