Sluispark

Sluispark is a city park in Leuven, Belgium, stretching along both sides of Sluisstraat in the heart of the Vaartkom district. The park officially opened on April 30, 2017, forming a key part of the transformation of a former industrial site into a lively, mixed-use neighborhood that now combines housing, offices, and commercial spaces.

Where exactly is Sluispark located?

The park occupies the area between Glasblazerijstraat and Sluisstraat on one side, and Sluisstraat and Vaartstraat on the other. This positioning is deliberate: the site sits between the arms of the Dijle River, which continues further on into the Leuven Canal (Leuvens Vaart). Water is not just a neighbor here — it's a defining feature of the park's design.

What role does the Dijle River play in the park?

For decades, much of the Dijle's course through Leuven ran hidden beneath the city, built over and largely invisible to residents. The design of Sluispark deliberately reverses that: the river was reopened along the park, allowing water and landscape to come together in a sustainable, engaging way. As part of this work, a specially designed fish passage was built at the weir on the fourth arm of the Dijle. It lets fish move upstream step by step, past the weir, reaching the upper and side branches of the river to spawn and grow.

What can visitors find in the park?

Sluispark was designed first and foremost for local residents. It includes seating areas, a central play area, a water play zone for children, cycling and walking paths, and numerous trees. The park also contains a play meadow, a neighborhood square, and a walnut tree orchard. Together, these features make it both an everyday green recreational space and a gathering point for the local community.

What history does this site carry from before the park existed?

The site of today's Sluispark has roots that go much deeper than the recent redevelopment of Vaartkom. The Sluismolen, a water mill, has stood on this spot since the early 12th century. During the Middle Ages it served several functions at once: it acted as a bridge crossing the Dijle River, as a lock used for shipping traffic, and as a water mill for grinding rye and wheat. Before the definitive park was built, a temporary park and cultural hotspot was set up on the site in 2013, inviting local artists and neighborhood organizations to shape and use the space — an approach that helped inform the character the park kept once it was permanently built.

Why is Sluispark worth a visit?

Sluispark brings together several qualities rarely found in one place: a dense urban location, open access to water, historical roots stretching back to the Middle Ages, and modern ecological features like the fish passage. It's a clear example of how former industrial and water infrastructure can be reshaped into a space that serves both people and the local river ecosystem of the Dijle.

Frequently asked questions

When did Sluispark open? The park officially opened on April 30, 2017.

Where exactly is the park located? In the Vaartkom district of Leuven, on both sides of Sluisstraat, between the arms of the Dijle River.

What can you do at Sluispark? Relax in the green spaces, use the play area and water play zone, walk or cycle the paths, and see the fish passage at the weir.

Was there anything on this site before the park? Yes — the Sluismolen water mill has stood here since the 12th century, serving as a bridge, a lock, and a grain mill.