Today in Ninove, the official launch was given for the construction of a brand-new school building for SBS De Lettertuin. This special moment was celebrated together with the alderwoman for education, Ilse Malfroot, and the school’s management, teachers, and pupils. With the symbolic cutting of a reinforcement bar and the burial of a time capsule, the first step was taken towards a modern and future-oriented learning environment. A design focused on greenery, connection, and tailored education lies at the heart of the new school. If everything goes according to plan, the new school building will open its doors on 1 September 2026.
The municipal primary school on Seringenstraat, Esdoornstraat, and Groeneweg offers both kindergarten and primary education. The old infrastructure no longer met contemporary standards and needs. In the meantime, Democo has demolished the old school buildings and construction of a new home on the familiar grounds has begun.
“Starting from the 2026-2027 school year, pupils will be able to attend a school that meets all needs in terms of comfort, safety, sustainability, and personalised education. It will be a compact school building with welcoming and spacious classrooms, a beautiful entrance square, a front garden, and plenty of greenery where children can play freely. De Lettertuin will soon have everything needed to let children grow up in a pleasant, curious, and warm environment,” says Ilse Malfroot, alderwoman for education.
On the ground floor, there will be an entrance with reception, a secretary’s office, a first aid room, and a care room for the kindergarten. There will also be space for a kitchen area, a dining hall for 200 children, and a large gym of 300 square metres. The administration will be housed on the first floor, where the first-grade classrooms will also be located. The second floor will finally accommodate the second- and third-grade classrooms.
Innovative
De Lettertuin will also be an innovative school, with flexible classrooms. At the explicit request of the school, acoustic sliding doors will be installed between two classrooms, allowing, for instance, the creation of double classes. This encourages more interaction between the pupils.
“This new building represents an important investment in education in our city. It is crucial to provide sufficient high-quality and pleasant learning environments. De Lettertuin is a perfect example of how this can be done in a thoughtful and efficient way. Moreover, this will be a school that not only teachers, pupils, and their parents will be very happy with. It will also be a breath of fresh air for the neighbourhood. Around the building, there will be a lot of greenery, which local residents can also enjoy. Furthermore, De Lettertuin can also take on the role of a community centre for the Groeneweg neighbourhood,” says Joeri Van den Driessche, principal of SBS De Lettertuin.
Outdoor Life
True to its name, De Lettertuin will offer no less than 3,250 square metres of outdoor play areas in various forms and finishes — around 75% of the entire school site. Not only will there be separate playgrounds for primary and kindergarten pupils, but De Lettertuin will also literally feature gardens in several places: a front garden with picnic tables, a vegetable garden for gardening, and even specially designed toddler gardens. Children will also be able to enjoy a small wooded play area and a green play hill. Young footballers and basketball players will have access to a separate play field. Remarkably, De Lettertuin will even include an animal enclosure for goats and chickens. A connecting path will smoothly link the various areas.
“We are striving for ‘broad schools,’ because a school is more than just a classroom. I want to invest in pupils; a school must be a pleasant place where children feel good and have every opportunity to develop and learn,” says alderwoman Malfroot. “The school will also open its spaces for playground activities, neighbourhood initiatives, and associations. Schools are left empty for months nowadays, but by giving these spaces a meaningful use during holidays, we are also investing in engaged parents.”
Flemish School Infrastructure Relief
The design, construction, financing, and maintenance of the new school building is being handled by Aurora Scholen. This consortium consists of investors EPICo and Rebel, together with contractors Democo and Van Roey. Aurora Scholen aims to give a much-needed boost to the revitalisation of school infrastructure in Flanders and relieve organising authorities, parent committees, and school boards of the associated burdens.
“Schools hold a particularly important place in our society. We are therefore incredibly proud to be building a project with such a significant social impact. That our consortium is also taking on the maintenance of the school building for a period of 30 years is an additional asset and provides peace of mind to the school and the city. The school board or parent committee no longer needs to worry about damage, maintenance, or its financing. They can now fully focus on school operations and the pedagogical concept,” says Jochen Willen, CEO of Democo.
