Sint-Amands Broad School Opens: Athletes Welcome After Hours

Sint-Amands (Eurotoday) – The Klauterpark comprehensive school is now operational in Sint-Amands (Puurs-Sint-Amands). This facility serves more than just educational purposes, offering space for after-school care services and sports clubs. Additional sports programs are also available for participants.

The Klauterpark Comprehensive School in Sint-Amands (Puurs-Sint-Amands) has officially opened, marking a significant milestone for the local community. More than just an educational institution, Klauterpark offers a range of additional services beyond traditional learning. 

Outside of regular school hours, the facility welcomes after-school programs, sports activities, and community-based organizations. Its innovative design ensures maximum utilization, benefiting students, local residents, and various organizations.

Klauterpark connects children’s after-school care with educational and sports programs across multiple spaces. Upgrades to the primary school include modernized bathrooms and designated rest areas for young children, along with access to a state-of-the-art gymnasium for gymnastics instruction.

Local sports clubs, such as Turnkring Pacsam VES and Athletes Gym, utilize advanced equipment, including a heated gymnastics floor and a detachable boxing ring. The sports hall accommodates badminton matches, volleyball tournaments, and basketball games. Additionally, other groups can book the facility for training sessions and lessons when preschool classes are not in session.

School infrastructure must increasingly be usable outside school hours,

says director Claude Duhamel.

To qualify for subsidies, we are also required to keep the school as open as possible, according to the Flemish government’s open schools decree. This is undoubtedly a great advantage for the residents of Sint-Amands.

Outside school hours, municipal employees oversee the building.

If the school were responsible for this alone, it would be nearly impossible. That’s why we collaborate with the municipality for tasks such as opening and closing the doors.

Our basic groups can come here for gymnastics throughout the week and on weekends,

says Ellen Gevers, chairwoman of the gymnastics club Pacsam and Ves.

Finding a large, well-equipped gymnastics hall is challenging for a gymnastics club. We require a lot of specialized equipment. We are extremely pleased with this facility.

The History Behind Klauterpark’s Multifunctional Approach

The concept of multifunctional school infrastructure, such as Klauterpark in Sint-Amands, aligns with the Flemish government’s “open schools” decree, which encourages schools to maximize the community use of their facilities. 

Through this policy, the government aims to optimize public funds by ensuring school facilities remain accessible for community activities such as after-school sports programs, early childhood care, and event hosting. Since the introduction of the open schools decree, over 60% of schools in Flanders have adopted shared infrastructure usage, according to Flemish government data.

The municipality of Sint-Amands, within the Puurs-Sint-Amands region and home to 16,000 residents, has an increasing demand for sports and recreational facilities. 

The Klauterpark project addresses this need by providing a state-of-the-art sports complex alongside improved childcare facilities and dedicated club practice areas. Efficient