On the business strip of Zeeburgereiland, near Kriterion Student Pump, there will be a new sustainable indoor swimming pool. The municipality announced the plans and Alderman Mbarki was clear: this pool is a direct response to the great shortage of swimming water in Oost. Children from the neighborhood should soon be able to get their swimming diploma simply in their own neighborhood, instead of commuting to a pool on the other side of town.
The project was created out of a concrete problem. Alderman Mbarki has had the shortage of swimming capacity in Oost on the agenda for some time. The choice of Zeeburgereiland is logical: the neighborhood is growing, more and more families live there, and the demand for swimming lessons is increasing. Locating the pool on the business strip makes smart use of existing space without encroaching on residential areas.
The pool consists of two pools. The 25-meter pool is intended for swimming lessons and obtaining swimming certificates. There will also be a separate target group pool, specifically designed for the elderly, people with physical or mental disabilities and babies. That second pool is not an afterthought that was quickly thought up, it is right next to the main pool and indicates that the complex is designed for more than the average swimmer. The building will be built sustainably, although details about the design are not yet fully known.
The 25-meter diploma swimming pool and target group pool for the elderly, people with disabilities and babies make it a place for the whole neighborhood, not just the athletic swimmer.
Construction on Zeeburgereiland is scheduled to begin in 2029, with an opening in 2030. That's still a few years away, but for a neighborhood that has long struggled with too little swimming water, it's at least a concrete prospect. Zeeburgereiland has changed considerably in recent years, from a former industrial area to a residential neighborhood with thousands of residents. A swimming pool of its own fits into that picture. The 25-meter pool for swimming diplomas and the target group pool for the elderly, people with disabilities and babies make it a place for the entire neighborhood, not just the sporty swimmer.