Oostende mayor wants to keep swimming ban despite new rules: 'Irresponsible'

Oostende Mayor John Crombez strongly opposes the upcoming relaxation of rules governing swimming in open water, expressing a desire to maintain the current prohibitions in his city. The new regulations, set to take effect on June 1, 2027, will allow swimming in all public waters by default, reversing the current principle where swimming is prohibited unless explicitly permitted.

Crombez stated that Oostende already deals with numerous drownings and struggles to ensure visitor safety. He highlighted that many visitors lack swimming proficiency and often disregard lifeguards' instructions. "I believe the new rules create a false sense of security," Crombez asserted, pointing to the city's complex waterways, including the sea, harbor, and inland water areas.

He expressed concern that the public perception of being allowed to swim everywhere could be misleading and "irresponsible." While the rules for swimming in the sea will remain unchanged, restricted to designated, supervised zones with lifeguards present, Crombez intends to implement a mayoral decree to keep open water swimming banned in Oostende unless otherwise indicated.

"The communication about the changes is detrimental to people's safety," Crombez said. He emphasized that authorities are tasked with ensuring safety in many dangerous locations and that this policy change undermines their efforts.