Zandhoven - Leisure centre

On 7 November 2025, the new ‘Den Blijk’ leisure centre in Zandhoven was officially opened. The design was commissioned in 2018 via an open call to the architectural firm BobMcMaster from Ghent and KRFT from Amsterdam, who were assisted by Daidalos-Peutz, engineering firm RCR and UTIL as subcontractors. The result is a building tailored to community life, which is seamlessly integrated into the village thanks to its all-round connection with the outdoor space and a subtle use of materials.

The new Den Blijk leisure centre blends thoughtfully and respectfully into the historic village square. A low-rise section on the square side houses the multi-purpose hall and Bar Blijk. A tall, compact section at the rear accommodates the municipal library, which is spread over five floors. The spacious entrance area is situated centrally within the building and provides a clear connection between the various functions. Access is via a comfortable, traffic-free internal street and connects directly to the courtyard garden, making optimal use of the building’s all-round orientation. All parts of the building offer lovely views of the sheltered courtyard garden, making the building seem to live in harmony with the seasons. In the library, cosy reading corners have been created with a view of the old plane tree, and a bench beneath that same tree provides a spot for relaxation. The central entrance area offers a view of the church tower. The village is never far away. The youth centre, the children’s library and the youth service offices are located underground and have direct access via a spacious external staircase that opens onto the courtyard garden, providing light and air. In this way, the young people of Zandhoven have a place they can fully call their own, whilst remaining connected to village life.  

The interior is characterised by a rich palette of atmospheres, each tailored to its function and use. The library exudes warmth and tranquillity, with a diverse range of workspaces and reading areas. Thanks to the choice of a folding roof, the multi-purpose hall is a large column-free space that can be flexibly used for the village’s vibrant community life. The youth centre is designed as a robust party venue, which, thanks to the box-in-box approach, causes no noise disturbance. A game of cards in the multi-purpose hall and a performance in the youth centre can take place simultaneously without causing any mutual disturbance.  

The architectural expression of the leisure centre features refined detailing with a bespoke facing brick that subtly references the pine cone or ‘mast top’. This nod to the nickname of Zandhoven’s residents, also known as ‘doppendragers’, seamlessly anchors the leisure centre within Zandhoven’s rich community life.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

The local authority of Zandhoven wants to build a new leisure centre that is intended to house a new library and a community and youth centre. The site is in the centre of Zandhoven and is among other things characterised by several classified village views around a square of cultural and historical value.

The heart of the leisure centre is the library, which is to meet contemporary requirements in the areas of literature, the acquisition of knowledge, encounter and culture. A library nowadays is more than a collection of books that can be read on the spot or borrowed: it is a place for a cultural experience and the sharing of knowledge.

The present site, which recently became the property of Zandhoven local authority, was in the past used by a parish and community centre. Clubs were able to engage in small-scale activities there. Zandhoven local authority wants to retain this community function and to provide a multifunctional space for it.

At the same time, the local authority wants to review its facilities for the young and develop a youth centre on the same site. This centre is to include a youth club, where the existing activities can be accommodated, combined with a space with facilities where the young can be creative and can meet together outside the activities of the youth club. Considering its central location at the heart of the district, special attention is to be paid to the limitation of nuisance (noise and other) to neighbouring residents.

Considering its position in the centre, with its unique cultural and historical elements, the new building must preserve and enhance the serenity and monumentality of the site. The building should also connect with the garden behind it.

The new leisure centre will cover about 800 m² in a maximum of three storeys, one of which may be below ground. The desire is for an open but warm meeting place where everyone feels welcome. This vision should inform the architecture. In addition, the new leisure centre must have a well-thought-out logistical concept, whereby the various functions are closely linked to each other while still retaining their individual character when necessary (e.g. separate entrances at different times). Lastly, the interior organisation of the centre must be flexible and constantly able to be adapted to the needs of the moment