Kapellen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – De Platanen Primary School won Kapellen’s annual swimming marathon, with 206 students participating. Marianne Van de Weyer praised students’ efforts, supported by Sandra Snelders and Swimming Club Iloka Kapellen (ZIK).
As VRT News reported, students from Kapellen, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, and nearby Hoevenen gathered at the municipal swimming pool on Saturday, Nov 15, 2025, for the annual swimming marathon. A total of 206 children from local primary schools and De Rekke School took part.
First and second graders played in the small pool. They threw as many balls as possible to the other side while standing on floating mats. Older students swam laps in the large pool. Parents were also invited to join.
“Students from the 1st to the 6th grade participate and compete against each other within each grade,”
says Sandra Snelders from the sports department in Kapellen
“Parents were also allowed to swim along to increase the average number of laps.”
Sandra Snelders, head of the sports department
Which school Won Kapellen’s Annual Swimming Marathon with 206 Students?
De Platanen Primary School won the victory trophy. The school had the highest percentage of students participating. After the event, children and parents enjoyed fresh waffles outside the pool.
The team from De Platanen Primary School celebrated with excitement after winning the annual swimming marathon in Kapellen. Noor (8):
“I thought it was really fun. We had to swim against older children, and I swam 10 laps.
Ylene (8):
“I also thought it was really fun. I like swimming because you get a lot of exercise.”
Raf (6) and Jeff (7) didn’t win, but they didn’t mind.
“We enjoyed it. We had to get the balls to the other side, and we were team red.”
Students cheered as they received the victory trophy. Marianne Van de Weyer, the school’s physical education teacher, said she is proud of the students. She explains,
“It’s sometimes difficult to convince students to swim, because they often have so many hobbies outside of school and little time left. At our school, every class goes swimming every two weeks.”
Marianne Van de Weyer added that it can be hard to motivate children to swim because they often have many hobbies outside of school. At De Platanen, every class goes swimming every 2 weeks.
“I think it’s important that they learn this well,”
Comments
10 responses to “De Platanen Triumphs in Kapellen Swim Marathon with 206 Students”
Oh, look at De Platanen Primary School, winning a swim marathon with 206 kids—must be all that waffle training 😉. Can’t wait for the Olympic trials when they showcase their ball-throwing technique next! 🏊♂️🥇
So, De Platanen pulls off a swimming marathon with a whopping 206 kids? Bravo! I suppose the secret ingredient was just enough waffles to float the whole school! 🏊♂️🥞
Looks like De Platanen’s swimming skills are only rivaled by their ability to serve waffles post-race—who knew laps could be so tasty? 🏊♂️🥞 206 kids and still no Olympic medals, but hey, at least they’ve got their priorities straight! 😂
In a stunning display of aquatic prowess, 206 students from De Platanen have proven that swimming laps is just as thrilling as sipping lukewarm coffee at a dreary meeting. 🏊♂️🥇 Who knew competitive splashing could bring such joy?
Not sure what’s more impressive: 206 kids swimming laps or the fact that parents jumped in just to boost the stats. Who knew a splash could turn into a team-building exercise? 🏊♂️😂
Oh, look at De Platanen, winning a swim marathon with 206 kids—must be nice to have a pool party with a trophy on the side! 🙄 Waffles after the race? What a clever ploy to drown their sorrows in carbs! 🍽️
Looks like De Platanen’s students have mastered the art of splashing about and winning trophies—who knew swimming marathons were the new Olympic sport? 🏊♂️💧 Just what we need, a generation of waffle-eating champions! 😂
Typical Belgian efficiency – 206 kids in the pool and only one trophy! Who knew the secret to success was mixing waffles with swimming? 🏊♂️🥞
Seems like De Platanen has cracked the code to swimming success with 206 kids in tow—probably while the rest of us just try to keep our heads above water in adulting! 🏊♂️💦
In a stunning display of academic prowess, De Platanen has turned the swimming marathon into a popular school outing—who knew splashing around could lead to such glory? 🎉 I suppose the real victory was the waffles afterward! 🥞
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