The baths complex was one of the watering-places featured in a special water issue of Flanders Today in August. The baths are Antwerp’s oldest, dating from 1933, when the complex consisted of a swimming pool with changing cubicles and 24 bathrooms for the use of those who, as was common at the time, did not have indoor sanitary facilities at home. In 1998 the building was designated as a monument, but in 2005 the pool was declared to be below the standard required by law. The baths were closed and the changing rooms, pool and parts of the bathrooms renovated to their original state. In place of public baths, however, come a hammam, herbal baths, a dance studio and gymnasium, and a brasserie.

The Veldstraat complex takes away €15,000. The other nominees for this year’s prize, one from each province, were the site of a thousand-year-old oak in Lummen (Limburg); the Hoge Wal defensive structure in Evergem (East Flanders); the Sint-Servatius basilica in Grimbergen (Flemish Brabant) and aerial photographs of an archaeological site in Zedelgem (West Flanders). Each receives €2,500.