Kluisbos recreation domain in Kluisbergen dismantled: "We give everything back to nature"

The former Kluisbos recreation domain in Kluisbergen is being dismantled, marking a significant shift towards ecological restoration. The Agency for Nature and Forests (ANB) is beginning the demolition of the swimming pools, a process that will commence after the construction holiday.

In 2023, the ANB acquired Villa Vogelsanck, the swimming pools, and the sunbathing area from the municipality. Villa Vogelsanck has already been demolished, and the land is being allowed to return to its natural state to foster forest regeneration. The project leader, Jary Haeck, explained that the 50-meter pool will be almost entirely removed, with one wall remaining for the cafeteria's stability. The rest will be filled with earth and transformed into a pond.

While the main pools are being removed, the toddler pool will be preserved to provide a habitat for amphibians. "We will approach it in such a way that you will no longer see that it was a swimming pool," Haeck stated. The diving tower is set to become an observation tower, and the deep pool in front of it will also be converted into a pond. The cafeteria building itself will remain standing, with its water purification machinery to be removed from the basement.

All structures on the sunbathing area and within the wooded sections will also be removed. This includes the adventure course, sandbox, and volleyball court. Approximately 40 centimeters of soil will be excavated from the sunbathing area to revert it to its original state before the pool's construction, creating a flowery grassland. These restoration works are expected to continue until October, with material transport primarily occurring via Poletsestraat.