Reimaginning Urban Swimming - with Sander Belmans, Barbara Enckels and An Schepers

Reimagining urban swimming

What does it take to transform a former industrial dock into a place where people can safely swim?

In this episode of Cities Reimagined, Johannes visits the Keerdok in Mechelen, Belgium. Once dominated by warehouses, parking and industrial activity, the area is being transformed into a new urban neighbourhood that opens the city towards the water as part of the 'Water as the Source of Urban Public Space' Innovative Action funded by the European Urban Initiatives.

He speaks with Sander Belmans from De Vlaamse Waterweg and An Schepers and Barbara Enckels from the City of Mechelen about the long process behind the city’s open-water swimming zone.

After five years of temporary experiments, Mechelen is now preparing a permanent swimming facility at the Keerdok. The new design will combine swimming infrastructure, public space, shade, greenery and floating habitats for animals and plants.

Listen to the episode here:

🎧 Spotify: [LINK]

🎧 Apple Podcasts: [LINK]

▶️ YouTube: [LINK]

In this episode:

● How can cities make open-water swimming possible when the rules are not yet ready?

● How can swimming, shipping, biodiversity and public space coexist in the same waterway?