Beaulieu and Act Sports strengthen sports experience in Kruisem with new artificial turf field

This week, the new artificial turf field of KVC Nokere-Kruishoutem was officially inaugurated in the presence of representatives of the club, the municipal council, and the involved partners Stadsbader and Beaulieu International Group. A memorable event for the hundreds of young footballers in the municipality. 

While a summer football camp was in full swing in the background, KVC Nokere-Kruishoutem chairman Geert Lacroix proudly presented the new pitch to the attending press and many partners who helped make the project possible. “Since the merger between Nokere and Kruishoutem in 2009, the number of players in our club has steadily increased to over 200 members. That means our fields are constantly busy with training sessions and youth matches. Add to that the location of the pitch, which often caused flooding, and the result was that by November our field was already unplayable, forcing us to disappoint many young footballers during the winter months.”

After years of preparation — discussions about a new pitch first began in 2021 — and close collaboration between the club and the municipality, a permit was granted in 2024. Beaulieu — a proud sponsor of the local football club for many years — was chosen together with contractor and trusted partner Stadsbader as supplier for the artificial turf following a public tender. Since this summer, Act Sports’ FIFA-certified turf has ensured that in Kruishoutem, just like in nearby Zingem, football can be played safely all year round, by both young and old. Lacroix beamed: “It took a lot of effort, with delays due to archaeological research, but now you can see what all that work has delivered. Thanks to the quality of Act Sports, the difference with natural grass is hardly noticeable, and the cork infill ensures that the field plays softer and does not heat up, unlike the rubber infill we had in the past.” 

Sports Alderman Sofie Bauters also underlined the importance of an artificial turf pitch for the sporting experience in her municipality: “The club now has the guarantee that training and matches can always take place, enabling individual development and new growth for the team. And with the choice for cork infill, we as a municipality are also making a clear choice for an environmentally friendly and healthy alternative to rubber granulate.” 

Beaulieu is proud to have played a role in facilitating the sporting experience for the 180 youth players and 45 adults who practice here with a ball day in and day out.