And the basement of the bath also has the necessary problems. Machines have already been replaced and water pipes have already been skewed in the wall as a result of subsidence. Koelink points to the 1968 year of construction. “That also means that you are dealing with a concrete construction from that period. Sooner or later that is subject to weather influences, subsidence and concrete rot.”
Tiles and pipes break through subsidence. In the outdoor swimming pool there have already been ‘big leaks’ in the past, because the floor sagged there. “Then there is just an incredible amount of water.”
The problems are not just behind the scenes. “You literally see it on the floor. Some people say it seems polluted, but it’s pure wear.” Koelink also points to the door between the indoor and outdoor swimming pool. “It doesn’t look.” It is full of cracks and the browses.
And something else is going on with the swimming pool. It’s packed. “That is actually very nice news. It would be worrying if we have a very old swimming pool with few visitors.” That is not the case. Every year the bath attracts between 240,000 and 260,000 visitors. This makes it the most popular indoor recreational facility in Southwest Drenthe. On average, a public swimming pool in the Netherlands attracts 128,000 visitors a year.
Maybe the swimming pool in Meppel is a bit too full. For example, several associations use the swimming pool, good for around 600 members, as well as nearly 1300 primary school students who learn to swim there. “Associations grow, that is also good news. That means that enthusiasm for swimming is high. We see an increase in youth.” But because there is too little bath water, the youth cannot train enough in Hesselingen. Associations have been asking for more space and times for a long time, but that space is not there.