Swimming in City Port not allowed

In hot weather, it is tempting to cool off in the waters of the City Port. However, swimming in the docks is very dangerous. That is why a swimming ban is included in the Police Regulations for the Antwerp City port area. If you do swim there, you risk receiving a Communal Administrative Sanction (GAS).

There are many reasons why it is a bad idea to swim in docks, canals and navigable waterways. Some of the reasons for the swimming ban are:

• The docks are not set up for swimming. This makes it difficult to get back to shore safely.
• Swimmers are hardly visible, if at all, to passing vessels.
• Ships have a slower reaction time than cars, for example, so they are less likely to swerve or reduce speed.
• Ships travel faster than most people think and swimmers can be sucked towards the ship by the suction of passing ships, causing swimmers unexpected problems.
• Invisible structures or objects may be present below the waterline and can cause serious injuries.
• The difference in temperature between the upper and lower layers of the dock water is very large. As a result, there is a danger of cramped muscles and hypothermia, which can quickly cause swimmers to get into serious trouble.
• Water quality is not guaranteed. Although the quality of the dock water is mostly good to very good, there are strong fluctuations due to historical pollution and (unknown) discharges into the dock water. In warm weather, the growth of algae and bacteria in the warm water can pose health risks.

Swimming in the docks of the Antwerp City Port is only allowed under strict conditions in the context of an event, after measurements of the water quality have been made and with the mayor's permission.