The Neerpede Park renovation in Anderlecht is shaping up to be an urban fairytale in the making. This ambitious project aims to restore biodiversity, improve water management, and—most excitingly— introduce a natural swimming pond, offering Brussels residents a refreshing dip in a setting that’s both scenic and sustainable.
Reimagining a 20th-Century Park for 21st-Century needs
The ongoing project at Neerpede Park is all about adapting a landscape born in the 1980s to meet the social and ecological challenges of today. While preserving the spirit of the original park, the redesign focuses on restoring natural processes and boosting biodiversity. Key interventions include the renaturalisation of the Neerpedebeek river, with newly meandering paths and soft, planted banks that allow the stream to breathe again. A floodable zone (or “marnage area”) is being created, giving the river space to overflow and form dynamic wetland habitats.
And to make sure local wildlife truly feels at home, a dedicated biodiversity sanctuary—off-limits to the public—will provide a safe haven for plants, amphibians, insects, and birds. A 20th-century park, refreshed with 21st-century purpose.
A Natural Swimming Pond: The Vision
At the heart of the project is the Moyen Pond, which will be transformed into a pioneering public swimming spot. The plan includes:
- A dedicated swimming area – where visitors will soon be able to enjoy an open-air swim in naturally filtered water.
- A lagoon purification system – featuring aquatic plants (nature’s best water filters) to maintain water quality while attracting wetland species.
- A biodiversity sanctuary – a protected area where flora and fauna can thrive undisturbed.
This innovative approach ensures that swimming will be possible without chemical treatments, proving that nature can handle the job—and do it stylishly.
Challenges and Smart Solutions
Like any bold project, this one comes with its share of hurdles:
- Strict water quality regulations mean that the pond will function as a closed system, separate from the nearby river. This raises bigger questions about the river’s health—an issue that can no longer be ignored.
- Local opposition emerged, with some concerns regarding the potential environmental impact, particularly on biodiversity. However, the project has been carefully designed to minimize disturbance and even enhance the natural ecosystem. Unlike traditional chlorinated pools, this swimming pond will rely on natural filtration, creating new wetland habitats that benefit both people and wildlife.
A Historic First for Brussels
Once completed, this will be Brussels’ first public open-air swimming site in over 50 years—and the first ever without private initiative!
For now, the waters remain calm, but the excitement is building. Neerpede Park is set to become a flagship project for sustainable tourism, eco-friendly urban design, and a fresh take on city swimming.
A project that proves you don’t need chlorine to make a splash—just a bit of vision and a lot of water plants!
‘“Water should be accessible, touchable, splashable” – WillyamH. Whyte, sociologist, urbanist and author of The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces
Neerpede Park
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Landscape Architect: OMGEVING
Image Credits: OMGEVING