Blaarmeersen, Recreation area in Ghent, Belgium

Blaarmeersen is a 100-hectare recreation area in Ghent along the Ringvaart, the Leie and the Watersportbaan, built around a figure-eight lake with a beach. A 34-metre artificial hill, the Karel Sabbeberg, carries a lookout tower, and the grounds hold sports facilities including the Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx and a skate park.

The Blaarmeersen occupies former Leie meadows that were raised and partly expropriated for the park. A design competition was held in the 1960s and won in 1969 by Ghent architects Vanacker with landscape firm Belgramo, but work only began in 1976, funded by the city. The campsite opened in 1979, the administration Sport moved into the beach building in 1981, and the lozenge-shaped lake was dug later, its soil piled into the adjacent hill.

This place serves as a gathering spot where students and locals come together for swimming, sunbathing, and sports. The open layout with its different activity areas shapes the daily life of the local community.

The swimming area is open from May through September, with extended hours during summer months and lifeguards on site. It helps to arrive early on weekends to find good spots, especially when the weather is nice.

A large skate park with specialized ramps and obstacles draws skateboarding enthusiasts from across the region and is a major meeting point for local skate culture. Many visitors do not realize how heavily this area is used by both professionals and beginners during operating hours.