The roar of the Hurricane still echoes. Can you hear it? This empty space once vibrated with the screams of delight the splashes of a thousand joyful swimmers. This is the former Oc\u00e9ade site.
Imagine Oc\u00e9ade in its prime. The largest indoor waterpark in Brussels. Fourteen thrilling slides. The Anaconda a behemoth of a slide. The Barracuda the longest duo slide in all of Belgium. Then there was the Hurricane the fastest slide in Europe. Riders soared at an average of 40 km/h. A rush of adrenaline a symphony of screams and laughter. The air thick with the scent of chlorine and sunscreen. The constant 29°C temperature a tropical escape from the Brussels weather.
Oc\u00e9ade wasn’t just slides though. There was a wave pool. A kids area. Saunas. Even a Saunaland for ultimate relaxation. The park drew over 240,000 visitors annually. 1,800 cubic meters of water churning and splashing. A testament to the popularity of this beloved Brussels landmark.
But all good things must end. In 2016 the Brussels city council announced plans for the NEO project. This ambitious redevelopment scheme would replace Bruparck. Oc\u00e9ade and Kinepolis cinema were to be demolished. Protests erupted. Closure was repeatedly delayed. But on September 30 2018 the gates closed for the final time.
The silence is deafening now. The slides are gone. They were sold at auction to a Romanian company. They are now being reassembled somewhere in Romania. The water is gone. The laughter is gone. Only the memories remain. Memories of a place that was much more than just a water park. Oc\u00e9ade was a piece of Brussels’ heart. A vibrant hub of fun and laughter. A place where families created memories. A place that will never be forgotten.
This empty space is a reminder of what was and a testament to the constant evolution of cities. Oc\u00e9ade may be gone but its legacy lives on in the hearts of those who experienced its thrills its laughter and its unique place in Brussels history. Today this site is a brownfield. But its story its legacy will always remain.