While the large majority of bathing waters in the European Union are safe for summer swimming, Belgium is among the worst pupils in the class.
Among more than 22,000 sites examined in 2024 in the EU, as well as in Albania and Switzerland, the water quality was rated. Depending on the levels of bacteria detected (which indicate pollution mainly from sewage or livestock farming), the quality was classified as 'excellent', 'good', 'sufficient' or 'poor.'
While nearly all (96%) of bathing waters in the European Union meet minimum quality standards, Belgium is quite low down on the ranking made by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
With an excellence rate of 69.2%, Belgium is the fifth worst performer in the EU. However, only 0.8% of the country's bathing waters are classified as 'poor,' and the rest are classified as 'sufficient' or 'good.'
The Big Jump event in Anderlecht, to claim the right to clean rivers. Credit: Belga/ Nicolas Maeterlinck
This score puts Belgium ahead of Hungary (67%), Estonia (61.5%), Poland (58.1%) and Albania (16%), which dropped more than 25 points in one year. Still, this score puts Belgian bathing waters far below the European average of 85%.
Additionally, the country scores worse than its neighbours: the Netherlands does slightly better than Belgium with 72.5% of its bathing waters of 'excellent' quality. France does even better, with 74.2%. Germany, meanwhile, is the eighth-best performer, with 90.5% of its waters rated 'excellent'.
"Along the coast, bathing water quality is generally better than that in inland waters. Many of central Europe's inland bathing waters are found in relatively small lakes, ponds and rivers with a low flow," the EEA said. "These inland waters are more susceptible than coastal areas to short-term pollution caused by heavy rains or droughts, especially in the summer."
In 2023, a total of 321 sites had 'poor' water quality. Over the course of a year, 67 of those improved to 'sufficient' at least, according to the EEA. If tests show that water quality is 'poor', authorities are required to ban swimming the following season, implement measures to reduce pollution and eliminate health hazards to swimmers.
Best performers
Cyprus is the top performer in the ranking with 99.2% of its waters of 'excellent' quality, followed by Bulgaria (97.9%), Greece (97%), Austria (95.8%) and Croatia (95.2%).
"Europeans can bathe with confidence in the vast majority of bathing sites in the EU that meet quality standards," European Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall said in a statement.
