Ghent’s Swimming Pools Rooigem and Van Eyck Closed Amid National Strike

Ghent (Eurotoday): The Farys swimming pools Rooigem and Van Eyck in Ghent will be closed all day on January 13, 2025, as part of a nationwide protest against changes to pension plans by negotiators of a new federal government. 

This over a one-month strike by different trade unions represents workers’ unrest related to the public service, transport, educational sectors and many more. Consequently, the intercommunal Farys has stated to these two popular swimming bodies that they will not open to the public. Although the complete particulars of other affected areas are withheld, it is quite apparent that the strike would heavily impact the usual course of business.

Fary’s swimming pools, Rooigem and Van Eyck in Ghent, will remain closed on January 13, 2025, as operators joined a countrywide strike against changes to pension laws. More information about other subsequent closures in the rest of Flanders is still to be provided. This is why the closure of Rooigem and Van Eyck swimming pools is part of the larger national protests to resist what workers believe are changes to pension schemes that are capable of eroding their ability to have a decent retirement. The unions capable of organising this strike have raised issues concerning wages, freezes in working hours and cuts in social services. This strike will not only affect swimming pools; other public services in Belgium are expected to be affected. Currently, the definitive list of all pool closures is still pending. However, Farys manages swimming pools and sports infrastructure in 35 cities and municipalities in Flanders, and many of them might also shut down their pools. The unions have demanded unity among workers through active participation in demonstrations all day.

Context of the national strike and its implications

January 13’s national strike is a continuation of the disappointing conflict between labour unions and the federal government over changes to pension laws. Employees across different companies, through their trade unions, FGTB, ACV, and ACLVB, have been demanding the cessation of what they term massive attacks on workers. 

This strike comes on the heels of other demonstrations that the society has conducted in the last one and a half years, whereby workers across all sectors of the economy have gone on strike to protest measures that they believe will harm public service delivery and workers’ welfare.

The Rooigem and Van Eyck pools are historical monuments of Ghent; they are a place for recreation with significant social importance in maintaining healthy activity. Also, the Van Eyck pool, which was founded in 1886, is today the oldest inside hall of swimming for sports in northern Belgium and features impressive art-deco architecture. Its shutdown during this strike points to the occurrence of such social losses when workers launch a strike that shuts down essential services.

The people’s perception is gradually becoming adverse to government actions tamping down workers’ rights and incentives, and it may provide a landmark to subsequent bargaining between the workers’ representatives and the government. The result might affect not only pension change debates but also other labour relations in Belgium’s public domain. Considering that millions of inhabitants rely on public transport and facilities such as sports facilities, playgrounds, and cultural facilities, the consequences of this strike could reach numerous spheres of life for inhabitants in Ghent or other cities.