Bruges clears duckweed from Damse Vaart to make swimming possible

Bruges is allocating extra money to maintain the Damse canal and to prevent duckweed so that people can swim. Last year the Damme-Brugge race could not take place because the Damse canal turned green from the duckweed.

At the request of the associations that swim in the Damse Vaart, Bruges is now intervening in the maintenance of the canal to keep duckweed to a minimum and to enable swimming in open water this summer. The city will call on specialized firms to maintain the canal. For example, an annual mowing of underwater plants is provided. The Langerei Swimmers receive 4000 euros to purchase material to mow plants.

A company is also appointed to remove the duckweed that is already present. Bruges has already released a budget for the route on Bruges territory. Next week, the five associations that use the Damse canal will meet with the city of Damme, which will hopefully provide money for the other half of the canal.

Rising demand for open swimming water

“The demand for open swimming water has increased in recent years and the number of members of sports clubs that use open swimming water options is increasing. Swimming in the Damse Vaart is traditionally on the agenda of many swimming enthusiasts during the summer months. Swimming in nature has great charms, but unfortunately nature also has its limitations, or in this case literally obstacles. To get rid of these, we deploy the necessary resources, together with the swimming clubs,” says Brugs ships of Sport Franky Demon. “In this way we want to do everything we can to allow the Bruges-Damme competition to take place this year and to allow the Langerei Swimmers to experience a successful open water season”, says Franky Demon.