Municipality invests over €19 million in renewal of Sportpark Het Anker in Buchten

Gemeente Sittard-Geleen

The municipal council of Sittard-Geleen has approved an ambitious proposal for the renewal of Sportpark Het Anker in Buchten.

The council is allocating funds for the realisation of an entirely new sports complex, including a sports hall, club house, and two artificial grass football pitches. There is also broad support for the construction of a swimming pool, intended for specific target groups and swimming lessons.

Acquisition of Het Anker

This year, the municipality of Sittard-Geleen became the new owner of the Het Anker sports complex in Buchten. The decision to purchase the complex was made in order to gain more control and direction over the development of a future-proof sports facility for residents of Born, Buchten, and Holtum.

As the new owner, the municipality entered into discussions with the current users of Het Anker to discuss their wishes, requirements, and possibilities. Based on those conversations, several options have been developed for Het Anker’s future.

Unanimous preference

After intensive consultation with both current and future users of the sports park, a unanimous choice was made for a variant that includes:

A new sports hall and club house on the current football pitch next to the car park
Two artificial grass football pitches
Four tennis courts
One central catering facility
A possibility for future expansion, such as padel courts or a football academy.

After the city’s Chief Executive had previously adopted this preferred option, the council has now expressed its support for the same future scenario. Additionally, an assignment has been given to quickly seek a commercial party that is willing to operate a swimming pool at the location.

Two members of the Chief Executive, Leon Geilen and Andries Houtakkers, have jointly led this project and are pleased with this outcome. “With this decision, we can now proceed and take concrete action. It was high time, as there has been uncertainty over the future of Het Anker for far too long. The users of Het Anker no longer have to be uncertain and can look forward together,” says Leon Geilen. “A future that looks bright for the sports clubs,” adds Andries Houtakkers. “A future-proof Anker is very important for the liveability of Born, Buchten, and Holtum.”

Planning and participation

Preparations will begin in 2026, after which construction can commence in 2027. The football pitches may possibly be renewed as early as 2026. All of the sports clubs will remain closely involved in the further development of the plan.

In this development phase, aspects such as the operation of the joint catering facility and the choice between natural grass or artificial grass pitches will be considered. Furthermore, a definitive location for the judo club’s dojo still needs to be determined.

Future-proof and sustainable

The new sports park will be fully accessible for all and will meet the latest sustainability standards. The municipality is also investigating whether existing buildings can be repurposed. The existing green structures will be preserved, which is beneficial for spatial integration and will result in an even more attractive site.

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