A swimming competition, going down the slide with friends or leisurely swimming a lap. The municipality of Hoogeveen wants to open a new swimming pool in 2029 that is fully equipped.
This comes with a large price tag: 32.5 million euros. This is evident from a letter from the municipality with ideas for a new swimming complex. Hoogeven residents should be able to live for decades with a new bath.
In addition to the usual teaching, recreational and paddling pools, there should be a 25-meter competition pool. One with eight lanes where fanatics can compete against each other. A slide is in the pipeline for the youth.
The possibility of a 50 meter competition pool has been examined. That option has been rejected because it costs too much money, says Hoogeveen. Such a bath is also for top athletes and therefore not necessary. People can move to Drachten, where such a pool is being constructed.
The aim for the new swimming pool is a location near Bentinckspark-Noord. A place where the construction of a new school and the arrival of homes are being considered.
Swimmers can expect an upgrade, because the first plans show that a lot of swimming water will be added. Three hundred square meters more than De Dolfijn now.
An outdoor pool is not planned. According to the municipality, this is too expensive and outdoor swimming is already possible in other places in the region. For example at the Nijstad recreational lake and the open-air swimming pools in Zuidwolde and Ruinen.
It is still being examined whether an outdoor sunbathing area is possible. “Possibly with a paddling pool,” can be read in the documents. These plans still need to be further developed. The same applies to a rapids, hot tub and furnishings within the complex.
If you ask many Hoogeven residents whether a new bath is needed, most will say yes. The current De Dolfijn swimming pool dates from 1969 and has been renovated several times over the years, but the wear and tear is over.
Renovating again is out of the question, according to the municipality. The pool would be closed for at least a year due to the work. Children would no longer be able to obtain a swimming diploma and other swimming clubs would have to move to another location.
A technical inspection shows that no part can remain after renovation. Everything needs to be replaced, from basins to complete installations. That costs a lot of money and could just as well be invested in new construction, says Hoogeveen.
The same applies to expanding the current location. In both cases, the municipality fears that visitors will stay away and therefore there will be less income. A new bath with more functions therefore seems more attractive.
These are all starting points for the new swimming pool. Nothing is perfect anymore, things can still change. The municipality will further develop the plans in the coming years.
For example, a place will have to be found for the millions in the multi-year budget in the future. The municipal council will also look further into the theme.
Several attempts have been made in the past to open a new swimming complex. For example, in 2019 there was a plan in combination with an ice rink, which did not go ahead and resulted in a debacle.