De Blokkenhuizen, the childcare service of the municipal care company Zorg Kortrijk, is expanding with a seventh living group at the WZC Ter Melle site in Heule. This expansion adds 14 childcare places in a sub-municipality with many young families. The launch is scheduled for September 1, 2027. With this step, Zorg Kortrijk aims, together with the city's care partners, to significantly increase childcare capacity in Kortrijk and its sub-municipalities.
The 2026-2031 administrative agreement for Kortrijk emphasizes increased care and support for families. The city council intends to raise the coverage rate of preschool childcare from 60 to 66 places per 100 children.
Currently, De Blokkenhuizen has six living groups and provides daily care for at least 84 children. With the new living group, the daily capacity will increase to 98 children. The fourteen new places will be housed in an existing space at the Ter Melle site.
The new living group will make optimal use of existing infrastructure at WZC Ter Melle, which previously housed a day care center. That center has since moved to the new care campus 't Huis. This repurposing, similar to 't Huis, brings young and old together under one roof, fostering additional interaction between WZC residents and the children with their families.
Zorg Kortrijk is making a one-time investment of 85,000 euros for the setup of the new living group. Through this expansion, the organization reaffirms its commitment as a strong public care partner ready to support young families with sufficient, high-quality, and accessible childcare.
