Municipalities wishing to establish swimming zones in non-navigable open waters will not be required to conduct bi-weekly water quality tests themselves.
The Flemish Government, through the Flemish Environmental Agency, will cover the cost and organisation, said Flemish Minister of Environment Jo Brouns (CD&V) in Het Laatste Nieuws on Wednesday, with the news also appearing in De Morgen.
Municipalities simply need to ensure safe access for people entering and exiting the water, according to Brouns. If there is a plan for safe access, they’d be good to go at no cost, potentially allowing outdoor swimming until September.
However, Groen party leader Mieke Schauvliege responded, highlighting that many non-navigable waterways are very shallow, making swimming unappealing. She advocates for swimming to be allowed in navigable waters, as per the Flemish Government’s coalition agreement, which aims to permit open water swimming wherever it’s not explicitly prohibited.
Brouns noted discussions continue with Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Annick De Ridder (N-VA) about allowing swimming in canals. Schauvliege remarked that this was also a topic of discussion between former Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) and Lydia Peeters (Open VLD) in the previous government.
