Fancy cooling off on a hot summer day? Swimming lengths in a 50-metre pool? Or having fun in the water with your children? In Antwerp, you have more choices than you think! From swimming in a dock and an ecological swimming pond to an Olympic-size pool and a historic Art Deco-style bathhouse, you'll find water fun for everyone, in different parts of the city.
Open-air swimming in Antwerp
In the summer months, Antwerp can get quite hot. Days with high temperatures are a regular occurrence, so a refreshing dip is more than welcome. Swimming in the open air is allowed in the following places.
Boekenberg Swimming Pond in Deurne
In the Boekenberg Park in Deurne, you can swim among greenery in an ecological swimming pond. Plants purify the water naturally, leaving the pond free of chemicals. Swim lengths of the 80-metre-long pond or enjoy some fun in the small play pool. After swimming, roll out your towel on the spacious sunbathing area.
Swimming in Bonapartedok on the Eilandje
Fancy going swimming in an old harbour dock with a view of the MAS? In Antwerp, you can. ‘t ZwemDok
features three 50-metre swimming lanes and a spacious supervised swimming area. Everyone from 12 years old and up is welcome. Admission is free of charge, but due to its great popularity, you will need to book in advance.
De Molen Swimming Pool on Linkeroever (Left Bank)
You can also find an outdoor swimming pool on Linkeroever (Left Bank): De Molen. You can swim here in a heated 50-metre pool and there is also a splash pool and a large sunbathing area. Fancy something tasty after all that water fun? Along the promenade at Sint-Anneke beach, there are many cafes and restaurants. For many people from Antwerp, this is the very best place to eat mussels.
Fountains in Park Spoor Noord in Het Noord
You can't swim there, but the fountains in Park Spoor Noord do provide cooling and water fun on hot days. Are your children still small, or just a bit bigger? Let them play to their hearts' content in the shallow water while you enjoy a picnic or a crispy pizza from Bar Noord.
Sportoase Groot Schijn in Deurne
At Sportoase Groot Schijn, near the Rivierenhof, you can have plenty of water fun. On the top floor, there are two outdoor pools with a sunbathing area. Inside there's also a lot to do: a 25-metre pool, a wave pool, four slides and an area for small children. Just want to relax? That's no problem in the saunas, steam rooms and relaxation areas.
Special indoor swimming pools in Antwerp
Throughout the year, these Antwerp indoor pools offer water fun for young and old.
Olympic Swimming Centre Wezenberg in Antwerp
Fancy a brisk swim? Olympic Swimming Centre Wezenberg has a 50-metre competition pool and an instructional pool. Want to combine swimming fun with a nice walk? The Nachtegalenpark, with the impressive Middelheim Museum, is nearby.
Sportoase Veldstraat in Het Noord
In the heart of Het Noord, you will find a historic swimming pool in the art deco style: Sportoase Veldstraat. There, you can swim in a 33.33-metre pool, which at one time was the length that an Olympic pool was required to be. There is also a bathhouse with herbal baths and a wellness area. Enjoy!
Want even more swimming enjoyment? Wherever you are in Antwerp, there's always a pool nearby. Take a look at all the swimming locations in Antwerp in this handy overview.
FAQs
Where can you swim outdoors in Antwerp?
Places you can do that include Boekenberg Swimming Pond, De Molen Swimming Pool and 't ZwemDok in
Bonapartedok.
What is the largest swimming pool in Antwerp?
Olympic Swimming Centre Wezenberg features a 50-metre pool.
Can you swim in the Scheldt?
No, swimming in the Scheldt is prohibited due to strong currents and safety hazards. You are also
not allowed to swim in Muisbroek (the Ekerse Putten).
Can you swim for free in Antwerp?
Swimming in Boekenberg Swimming Pond and 't ZwemDok is free. The other pools
charge a (small) entry fee.
Meta title: Swimming in Antwerp 2026 | All swimming pools, outdoor spots and tips