Does there need to be more sand? Anyone walking these days across the historic Ladeuzeplein in Leuven can almost feel the adrenaline vibrating beneath the cobblestones. The setting is now legendary: the monumental university library looks down in state on a breathtaking arena covered with 900 tonnes of white sand. What began twenty-one years ago as a nice club initiative to put local sport on the map has, by 2026, grown into a monument on the beach volleyball calendar. And the Belgian teams? They are becoming increasingly dominant.

For twelve days, Leuven’s city centre turns into the country’s beating beach heart. After the twentieth anniversary edition, the organisation refuses to rest on its laurels. The 21st edition of Leuven Beach is just around the corner and promises to be sharper, more streamlined and more impressive sportingly than ever. It is a summer city festival in its purest form: a harmonious interplay between international FIVB stars from Namibia to Brazil, the elite of the Belgian Beach Tour, low-threshold recreation and social embedding. Armed with almost 300 passionate volunteers from volleyball club Lizards Lubbeek-Leuven, driving forces Danny Rens and Johan Neven prove that top sport and a warm community can blend perfectly.

Mindset and optimisation
Gentlemen, after such a highlight, is it hard to start edition 21? Doesn’t decompression creep in?
Danny Rens: “We consciously kept that decompression at bay by immediately adjusting our mindset. We wanted to treat this 21st edition like a ‘normal’ year, but with the sharpness of an anniversary. We didn’t float. Last year we analysed critically: what was good, what could be better? The focus is purely on optimisation. That keeps your feet in the sand.”

Johan Neven: “We completely scrutinised the concept. For family day we are now working with DJ Stinus from Zwanzibar to boost that atmosphere. We also looked for new, strong local partners for our shirt material. We incorporated the city of Leuven logo as a subtle, stylish pattern in the shirts. Everyone wears them like that: players, ball kids and the entire crew. That greatly strengthens the visual link with the city.”

Danny, you scour beach tournaments all year round. Is that your secret to keeping things fresh?
Danny Rens: “Absolutely, you have to keep the feeling with the sport and its evolutions. Because I see so many different tournaments, I notice the smallest things. We attach huge importance to details. Whether it’s the announcer, the branding around the courts or the texture of the shirts: everything has to be right.”

What feeling dominates when, after 21 years, you see the first sand trucks roll onto Ladeuzeplein?
Johan Neven: “Pride, without a doubt. Leuven Beach is ‘a summer party for everyone’. Besides top volleyball, we want to create a complete experience. When you see where we came from, you can be proud of that as a club. But that pride always only lasts a very short while (laughs). We remain critical of ourselves. What really makes it special is that everyone who comes to help is a volunteer. That is unprecedented.”
Danny Rens: “It remains a magical moment. We are now experienced organisers on the international circuit; this is already the sixth time we are hosting a prestigious Futures tournament. But the magic of that transformation on Ladeuzeplein never gets old.”

“Summer as it should be”
Your slogan is “Summer as it should be”. What does that philosophy mean concretely for 2026?
Danny Rens: “We constantly put ourselves in the world of the player or supporter. Last year the system for the tournament schedules didn’t run smoothly. It was half-digitalised, which sometimes made players feel like a number. This year we found a very efficient digital solution behind the scenes.”
Johan Neven: “We also look critically at the food and beverage offer. Making cocktails entirely on site created waiting times that were too long last year. For mocktails we are therefore now working closely with Sir. James 101, which greatly speeds up throughput without loss of quality. We also send satisfaction surveys to visitors and volunteers. If the people who carry the event feel good, that radiates onto the atmosphere.”

International stars & Belgian elite
We are at the sixth edition of the FIVB Futures World Beach Pro Tour. Is the world federation not practically begging to come to Leuven by now?
Johan Neven: “Begging is a big word, but the FIVB knows our value and we get excellent feedback. We have been asked a few times whether we do not want to move up one level in the World Tour circuit. But we consciously pass on that. At this Futures level we retain our organisational flexibility. Higher up, the FIVB restrictions are so suffocating that we risk losing our own Leuven identity and cosiness.”
Danny Rens: “International players praise our family approach. In terms of weather conditions we are prepared for anything. Whether there is a heatwave or a summer storm: we have scenarios ready. In 21 years we have fortunately only had to cancel a tournament early once. We hope the weather gods will be favourable to us.”

Which exotic teams should we watch out for this year?
Johan Neven: “Countries like Austria, Czechia and the Netherlands are traditionally well represented. But there are again real exotics. How about Namibia? They are directly in the main draw for the men. In the qualifications we welcome teams from Uruguay and Moldova, and the Brazilians are back as well.”

How strong is the Belgian input this year?
Danny Rens: “Enormously! That is the absolute engine of the Sundays. This year we have no fewer than four Belgian teams directly in the main draw of each of the two international tournaments. Fantastic for the progression of our own talent, which thus gains international experience in a familiar environment. Last year, in the women, Ruysschaert/Van den Broeck just missed the podium (4th place), Coens/Cools won a fine silver after losing to a very strong Austrian duo (then reigning U17 world champions). In the men we had a unique Belgian final between Vandecaveye/Vandecaveye and Vercauteren/Van Langendonck. The Vandecaveye brothers pulled the longest straw in a sizzling three-setter. That’s when Ladeuzeplein boiled over. I’ve never seen so many people on a Sunday. That is exactly why we do this.”

Will absolute icons Dries Koekelkoren and Tom van Walle create goosebumps again?
Danny Rens: “Dries and Tom have always had a soft spot for Leuven. There is immediately an atmosphere of deep respect and nostalgia when they step onto the sand. Nowadays we have contact with Dries in his role as Beach Coordinator at the federation. It is magnificent to see that those men, despite their huge record, still dive into our sand with so much hunger.”

In the women, the national battle is also a treat. Do they bring their own supporters?
Johan Neven: “Absolutely, the women’s top sport part is growing every year. Duos such as Simone Vervloet and Lente Thant – who recently won the final in Torhout against Hannelore Pass and Anke Coopmans – or the always attractive Tes Waegeneers and Lola Bombeke really have a loyal legion of fans. The beach world is a small, close-knit community. Look at someone like Christophe Witvrouwen (ex-Haasrode Leuven, now Caruur Ghent). He came to all preparatory meetings and officially joined the organisational team, simply because he cares so much about the event. Even his parents came to help spontaneously last year. Christophe is fully on board as day manager and even takes on a heavy night shift. That interaction and passion we need.”

Hard figures & logistical puzzle
900 tonnes of sand is not nothing. Where does it come from and how does that huge task go?
Johan Neven: “The sand is bought directly from Sibelco; a strategic long-term investment. We start pouring on Monday. Crucially, this year the sand is first completely machine-sieved before it is spread on the square. That is vital to guarantee that there are no impurities and that players can jump and dive in the safest and most optimal conditions.”

Entry has been free for 21 years. How do you make that work financially?
Danny Rens: “It is a financial puzzle every year, but we do not deviate one millimetre from that principle. It cannot be a ‘party for everyone’ if you first have to charge families 15 euros per person for the stands. To pull that off, we go back to our basis: investing smartly and sustainably, such as the purchase of the sand in the long term.”

And don’t forget the evenings! Our legendary afterworks are now called the ‘Beach Party!’s’. We organise two of them over the twelve days. Sport, entertainment, atmosphere and networking: the ingredients remain gold. Let that 21st edition come, we are ready!

Text: Kenny Hennens

Image: Will De Neyer

Leuven Beach 2026 programme (see also leuvenbeach.be/programma):
Belgian Beach Tour (three-star stop): 18 & 19 July (prestigious battle with the full Belgian elite).
FIVB Futures World Beach Pro Tour: 9–12 July. International top sport at its sharpest.
Beachpartys (Afterwork): Two exclusive evening editions with, among others, DJ Voltage.
Side programme: Family days on both Saturdays (with, among others, DJ Stinus from Zwanzibar), recreational tournament (64 teams), G-volley, Leuven neighbourhood sport and various sand games (Kubb, Spikeball, Pétanque).
(All matches and events on Ladeuzeplein are completely free for the public).