Free Entry at Zwemvijver Boekenberg Natural Outdoor Pool during Summer!

If you are planning to go swimming in Antwerp during the hot summer and have not discovered Zwemvijver Boekenberg, this should be one of the swimming pools that you should not miss.

Zwemvijver means ‘swimming pond’ in English. The location is at Boekenberg which is in Deurne and near to Berchem. Moreover, Zwemvijver is right in the middle of a park, Boekenbergpark. Coincidentally, it is also near to the Antwerp International Airport.

What is So Unique about Zwemvijver Boekenberg Ecological Pool?

➀ First and most important of all, the swimming pond is ecological. It makes use of the plants and stones as a water filter to purify the plant. That means no drying effects of chlorine and other harmful chemicals on the skin. The cold and purifying water is sure to rejuvenate you as well.

➁ There are two pools over there. The large pool is 73 m long with a depth of 1.80 m and 2.50 m. The small pool has a depth of 50 cm and is mainly for children.

➂ There is a large lawn over there. If swimming is not your interest, how about a picnic with your family and friends under the sun? The surface of the lawn is flat. So, it is indeed comfortable to place just a thin cloth and lie on a flat surface.

➃ Secure your belonging with ease. Lockers are available at a coin of 2 euro. At the end of the day, you can take back the 2 euro coin. If you intend to use the locker, arrive earlier as it gets more crowded in the afternoon so there might not be enough lockers for use.

➄ Within walking distance from Zwemvijver Boekenberg, there is a playground for the children. Although this is not the main attraction, it serves its purpose to keep them busy.

➅ You can play badminton in the open field beside the playground if there are not many people. As there is not much wind due to the side fences, the location is better than some other windy open fields. Bring your rackets though.

➆ Is free entry to the incredible all-natural swim site another unique feature to boast? The best things come for free. If you have a bike, it seems to be the most flexible way to get there easily and to spend a perfect afternoon swimming, suntanning, talking and eating!

Things to Note at Zwemvijver Boekenberg Outdoor Pool

❶ Wear an appropriate swimsuit because many are refused entry into the swimming site due to inappropriate swimwear. Here, I refer to the men who wear loose shorts. The men should wear appropriate swimming trucks. The security guards even have pictures on their hands to show what is the correct type of swimwear. If they refuse entry to these people, they are still allowed to remain on the lawn.

❷ For ladies, no T-shirt over the swimsuit or bikini in the swimming pool. Girls with long hair should tie their hair.

❸ Go as early as you can as in the afternoon, the lawn is full of people. It is likely that you would still be able to find a picnic or suntan spot there, but the position might not be ideal.

❹ During peak hours when there are many people in the afternoon, there would be an announcement in Dutch. It means that visitors can only swim for a block of 15 minutes. Usually, only 150 visitors are allowed into the swimming pond each time. In this instance, you can see a long queue outside the swim site. However, in 2o2o, only 60 people can enter into the swim site due to the corona measures.

❺ No sitting on the edge of the wooden platform along the swimming pool circumference. It is for the lifeguards to walk. They are constantly looking around the swim site for rules breakers.

❻ Water might still be cold in early summer as the temperature has not warmed it up enough. On the other hand, whether the water is cold or not is subjective.

❼ No food and drinks sold over there though. You have to self-supply your own. If you are lucky, there will be a van coming in the afternoon to sell ice cream. The business is good with a lot of people queueing up to buy from the ice cream truck.

Zwemvijver Boekenberg 2023 Time

The Zwemvijver Boekenberg opens daily even during the public holiday because I had been there. The electronic gate automatically closes half an hour before the closing time. Everyone had to leave the water in the next fifteen minutes.

*The scheduled time from 6 June to 17 September 2023: 

• Monday to Saturday
  • Time: 12 pm to 7 pm

• Sunday
  • Time: 11 am to 6 pm

How to Get to Zwemvijver Boekenbergpark?

By Velo

The nearest Velo Station to reach Zwemvijver Boekenberg is Velo Station No. 254 – Sint Jozef. Walk 400 metres for 5 minutes to reach the swim site.

By Bus

The start and endpoint of Bus No. 31 are from (Wommelgem) Krijgsbaan and (Antwerpen) F. Rooseveltplaats Perron 44. Alight at Deurne Unitaslaan. Walk 300 metres for 4 minutes to reach the swim site.

For more things to do monthly, check out Monthly Timeless Affairs.

Daily Water Temperature

The Twitter Feed below is the daily water temperature of Zwemvijver Boekenbergpark. I think it is useful to know particularly when the weather is not that warm yet.

18.05.2019 (Sat) – 15.09.2019 (Sun)
10.05.2018 (Thu) – 16.09.2018 (Sun)
13.05.2017 (Sat) – 17.09.2017 (Sun)