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Belgium – Even before completion Middelkerke’s casino wins construction award

By Phil - 31 August 2022

Even before construction has been completed, Middelkerke’s new casino has scooped the prestigious International Architecture Award 2022.

The build of the spectacular, futuristic, arched casino complex began in February. It will stretch 20 meters high into the air to form a glass wave in the central Epernay Square at a cost €30m to build. Under the arch will be housed an event square of 1,200 square meters for all seasons. At the foot of the arch there is a multipurpose room of 650 square meters and space for commercial uses. The hotel will have three floors with 60 rooms.

Private equity firm Waterland Private Equity owns the Middelkerke Casino licence on the Belgian coast, through its Belgian subsidiary Napoleon Games. Waterland, based in the Netherlands, has been granted a 15-year licence.

The design comes from the architectural firm Nautilius.

“The location of the building alone is something special. Because it is, so to speak, on the “wrong” side of the sea dike,” says Leo ten Wolde of Nautilius, directly on the beach and in the dunes, where there is hardly any construction. The design is also unique, “a combination of building and landscape.”

The International Architecture Award is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in the field of construction worldwide. The prize will be awarded in Athens in September whilst the new casino should be open by late December next year.

Mayor Janna Rommel-Opstaele said: “We are extremely satisfied. This can only benefit our citizens, businesses and tourists. I would like to emphasize that the construction of this new casino to Middelkerke will not cost the taxpayer anything. It will certainly be unique.”