After a 2,5-year renovation, the Merwestein sports and events complex in Nieuwegein has reopened. The complex combines an extensive recreational swimming pool with a double sports hall, multifunctional spaces, e-sports facilities, and four catering outlets. The arrival of two national sports federations and the use of data and AI underscore that operator Verbindion has more in mind than just a local sports facility.
Starting Monday, August 31, 2026, Merwestein will be put into use in phases. Swimming lessons, lane swimming, the sports halls, meeting and exercise rooms, and catering facilities were the first to start. The recreational swimming section follows on Thursday, September 3, including the wave pool and the wild water slide.
The reopening marks the completion of a major transformation. Part of the existing bathing area has been preserved and renovated, while other sections have been demolished and replaced by new construction. According to architect Slangen + Koenis, the renovated complex has a gross floor area of approximately 19.000 square meters.
More target groups and more visiting times
For the recreation sector, the combination of functions is particularly interesting. The renovated leisure pool, activity pool, and wave pool received more facilities for toddlers and preschoolers and additional interactive elements. In addition, Merwestein now features a double sports hall, eight meeting and exercise rooms, and four catering outlets under the name Drinks & Bites.
By bringing these functions together in one building, the complex can accommodate various target groups throughout the day: from swimmers, families, and individual athletes to schools, clubs, business users, and event visitors. Furthermore, the expansion offers more opportunities to combine a visit to sports or swimming with catering, rentals, and other activities.
The architecture supports this multifunctional layout. The double sports hall is situated on the upper floor, creating space on the ground floor for, among other things, exercise areas, meeting facilities, catering, and a transparent entrance zone. The hall is nearly 89 meters long and 28,5 meters wide. With four partition walls, the floor can be divided into five sections. The stands accommodate 800 visitors. The meeting and exercise areas can be used separately or combined and are equipped with interactive LED markings in the floor.
National sports federations as regular users
The ambition to transform Merwestein into both a regional and national sports hub is being realized through the arrival of the Dutch Darts Federation (NDB) and the Royal Dutch Billiards Federation (KNBB). Both organizations are establishing their federation offices in the complex. Furthermore, the NDB is moving a large portion of its events to Nieuwegein.
This means Merwestein gains not only occasional venue rentals but also regular organizational users and recurring competitions. The flexible double sports hall and multifunctional spaces accommodate national championships, ranking tournaments, and finals, among others. For operations, such recurring events can ensure more stable occupancy and additional spending on catering and supplementary rentals.
The partnerships also have a connection to the commercial recreation sector. Darts, billiards, pool, and snooker are widely offered in the hospitality industry and by providers of competitive socializing and interactive hospitality. The NDB and KNBB previously indicated that they are open to further cooperation with commercial parties.
The regular partners around the complex also include the adjacent DeMIX Fitness & Lifestyle, dive shop SubLub, and House of Esports. On its own website, Merwestein now presents esports as one of the sports facilities, alongside the sports halls, outdoor sports, and activities of neighborhood sports organization SportID.
Recreational swimming remains a major crowd puller
Although Merwestein presents itself more emphatically as a broad sports and connectivity hub, recreational swimming remains an important part of the concept. With multiple interactive slides, a wild water rapids course, a wave pool, diving boards, water fountains, and toddler pools, the pool caters to families and children. Digital screens and contemporary furnishings are intended to enhance the experience throughout the entire complex.
The programming is also being further tailored to target groups. In addition to free swimming, activities such as baby, toddler, teddy, and pregnancy swimming are returning. Additional lessons and activities will be launched in the coming period. For young visitors, Merwestein is introducing the otter Eden. This mascot, based on a design competition among swimming lesson children, will have a permanent role in swimming lessons and children's activities. In doing so, not only is the building being renewed, but work is also being done on recognizability and connection within the programming.
The four catering points serve different visitor flows. In addition to snacks and fries in the swimming pool area, Drinks & Bites in the entrance also offers juices, sandwiches, salads, and evening meals. Catering can be utilized as an additional service for rentals and events.
Larger building, lower energy consumption as an ambition
A large part of the renovation is aimed at reducing energy and water consumption. Merwestein has over 2.700 solar panels. Rainwater from the roofs is collected, cleaned, and reused. Heat is also recovered from shower water, and energy exchange takes place with the adjacent DeMIX.
According to the project description by Slangen + Koenis, the building was designed to be fully all-electric. Despite an increase in building size of approximately 60 percent, the design goal was to halve energy consumption. The actual performance will have to be demonstrated during operation. In addition, the preservation and renovation of the existing bathing area formed an important part of the circular design strategy.
Data and AI for managing occupancy
In addition to parties involved in sports content, Verbindion has connected technology companies KnowUr.Biz and Vintia to the complex. Data and AI are to be used to optimize the occupancy, usage, and maintenance of the facility. Particularly in a building with swimming pools, sports halls, meeting rooms, catering facilities, and diverse users, integrated control can help utilize capacity more intelligently.
For operators of sports and leisure facilities, the project demonstrates how a swimming pool can be embedded in a broader facilities concept. Not a single function, but the combination of recreation, sports, hospitality, rentals, health, and social programming forms the basis. This increases the number of potential visiting moments and revenue streams, although it remains to be seen in the coming period how the new capacity is utilized and what impact the investments will have on visitor numbers and operations.
Merwestein actively offers its spaces for sports tournaments, training sessions, clinics, meetings, and parties. The swimming pools and lanes are also available for rent to groups and clubs, while children's parties, school trips, and corporate outings constitute a separate market. The outdoor area is currently being renovated and is intended to connect sports, exercise, greenery, and social interaction, even outside opening hours.
The financial scope of the project was not mentioned in the opening announcement. However, in 2023, the Nieuwegein municipal council authorized the municipal executive to guarantee a loan of up to 50 million euros to Verbindion. This amount is a financing ceiling and is not automatically equal to the final construction cost. Additionally, the project is co-financed by the European Union.
Construction partners
Slangen + Koenis Architecten created the design. Burgland Bouw acted as the executing contractor and Hellebrekers Water & Leisuretechniek handled the installations. Treem supervised the construction process. The design for the outdoor area, which is still being further developed, is by Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners.
More information: www.merwestein.nl