Iconic Ghent swimming pool will relive its glory days one last time

The event will help to promote the city’s digital heritage image and its video bank

On Sunday, 29 August, the citizens of Ghent will be able to relive the glory days of the city’s iconic Neptune swimming pool and sunbathing lawn with a 1970s themed party. The event is part of the promotional campaign for “de Collectie van de Gentenaar” (The Collection of the Gentenaar).

‘The Collection of the Gentenaar’ is an online database of the heritage collections of Ghent’s museums and archives, which will be freely accessible to the public. In a bid to promote the use of the database, the city will launch a supporting fund for cultural projects that make use of the collection.

Saying ‘goodbye’ to the past

The Neptune used to be an iconic spot for 1970s Ghent with the outdoor swimming pool and sunbathing lawn attracting thousands of visitors on summer days.

However, in recent years, attendance has dropped drastically and this prompted the pool’s demolition near the end of last year. Now, a new indoor swimming pool is set to take its place and construction is due to start in autumn of 2022.

Sadly, because of Covid measures, there was no official farewell, but this is about to change. On Sunday, the retro event 'The Summer of the Neptune' will take place on the former sunbathing lawn, taking visitors back to the 1970s and the glory days of the open-air swimming pool.

The event will include a collection of stories and photos of the pool, as well as an ice cream stall, and hit songs from the decade.

Saying ‘hello’ to the past

The Collection of the Gentenaar is a project that will liberalise access to the past while promoting the use of archived material. At first, heritage collections of Ghent's museums and archives will become accessible in an online data and image bank that will launch on 1 October 2021.

Secondly, the city is setting up a fund to promote the use of the materials. Anyone who works with the data in a technological or creative way will be eligible for a subsidy between 2,000 to 20,000 euros. Think exhibitions, theatre plays, publications, films, music, but also apps, data visualisations and interactive installations.  

The Mayor of Ghent, Mathias De Clercq, was quoted in a press release saying: “During the retro event, residents of Ghent can reminisce about their Neptune. The Collection, on the other hand, will compile these memories and make them available to anyone who wants to work with them”.