The Tervuren Municipal Council meeting of August 28, 2025, marked the political reopening after the summer recess. The session, dense and at times contentious, was dominated by a lengthy debate on the new household waste tariff (Diftar), which for the first time revealed a split vote within the majority.

Acknowledgment of correspondence from Minister Hilde Crevits addressed to the municipality, following the complaint by Serge Liesenborghs (Tervuren Unie+Volt)

Additional information: This letter followed an appeal filed on March 29 against a decision of the municipal executive (College) dated March 3, establishing a regulation for vendors at the Friday market. This regulation required merchants to “use Dutch as the language of address (‘aanspreektaal’) in written and oral communication.” During the municipal council meeting of March 27, the councilor requested that this requirement be amended, as it was unconstitutional, illegal, contrary to business practices, and did not promote harmonious community life. The mayor responded (with evident bad faith, ed.) that this only applied to communication with the administration. Councilor Serge Liesenborghs subsequently referred the matter to the Advisory Board for Language Matters in Flanders (ABB). Upon learning this, the municipal executive quickly amended the regulation to avoid being “overruled” by the minister, changing the obligation into a “recommendation” (aanbeveling), while adding that “communication between the merchant and the municipal authority, as well as its staff, must be conducted exclusively in Dutch.”

The minister sided with the complainant, reminding that a linguistic obligation would be unconstitutional. Furthermore, she clarified that even in contacts with the municipal administration, the language requirement applies **only** to merchants established in the Flemish homogeneous linguistic region. The clause therefore cannot be applied to merchants based in Brussels or in a Flemish municipality with language facilities. Noted. Thank you, Madam Minister.

Once again, it is clear that the municipal majority seeks, despite the law and citizens’ interests, to regulate in a federal matter.

Administrative Points

Appointments of representatives for Interleuven and Toerisme Vlaams-Brabant were validated, the latter by secret ballot confirming Bram Bartholomees (Alderman, Voor Tervuren). The council also acknowledged reports on intermunicipal associations and complaints filed in 2024. On the latter point, Councilor Carine Borghans (Groen+Vooruit) highlighted the lack of daycare places; the competent alderman mentioned ongoing projects to recruit staff and develop new facilities, with no immediate solutions.

Administrative Sanctions and Mobility

Two technical decisions appointed new officers authorized to issue administrative fines, particularly for parking. It was clarified that no projects currently exist to install automatic cameras or speed radars, though this option remains open for the future.

Housing and Exit from KANVAZ

The council unanimously approved the exit from the housing company KANVAZ. Questions were raised regarding the transfer of the relevant land, with the executive confirming that the procedure is ongoing and closely monitored.

Personnel and Education

The pension bonus for municipal teachers will be increased. Geoffroy de Visscher (Tervuren Unie + Volt) questioned the overall budgetary impact; the management confirmed that the financial burden is limited to a few cases per year. School and employment regulations were updated and approved without debate.

Housing Policy and Water Management

The subsidy file for local housing policy of the intercommunal cooperation body (IGS), Druivenstreek cluster, was approved, with Councilor Bram Peters (Groen+Vooruit) welcoming the integration of the certificate of compliance. An agreement with De Watergroep once again transferred responsibility for sewage management to the municipality to maintain local control of the sewage network.

Public Works

The specifications for sewer works on Vestenstraat and Louis Buelenslaan sparked debate. Bram Peters (Groen/Vooruit) criticized the two-way traffic option, advocating for a more coherent design for soft mobility; his faction abstained. Geoffroy de Visscher emphasized the loss of parking spaces and requested guarantees regarding deadlines and penalties; the municipal executive responded that the timeline is set at 125 days but acknowledged the absence of specifics regarding financial sanctions for delays.

Household Waste Tariff (Diftar)

The highlight of the session was the review of the new waste collection tariff regulation introducing a pay-by-weight Diftar system. Alderman Trappeniers outlined the objectives: reduction of tonnage (from 130 to 90 kg per inhabitant), the “polluter pays” principle, cleaner streets, and alignment with the experience of numerous Flemish municipalities.

The opposition, represented by Geoffroy de Visscher (TU+Volt), denounced the reform as “radical” and costly (Tervuren Unie+Volt, local political party): according to his calculations, a typical family could see its bill increase three- to fivefold, along with a reduction in service (biweekly instead of weekly collection, mandatory use of containers, increased constraints for city center residents). He also warned of risks of fraud (waste deposited in neighbors’ containers), vandalism, odors, and additional burdens for the elderly. Eight technical questions were raised concerning organic waste containers (GFT – “Groente-, Fruit- en Tuinafval,” vegetable, fruit, and garden waste), data security, penalties, and the transition from the previous bag system.

The municipal executive responded point by point: GFT remains optional, containers can be secured with a lock, violations will be monitored by Interrand, and remaining bags can be exchanged. The mayor strongly defended the reform as “necessary and inevitable,” emphasizing the experience of other intermunicipal associations and the need to reduce waste treatment costs.

Tensions were particularly high within the majority: the N-VA group publicly expressed unease, highlighting the increased costs and operational complexity of the system. Its members split during the vote, some supporting the coalition out of loyalty, others abstaining. This heterogeneous vote was unprecedented and left a strong impression.

The Tervuren Unie+Volt councilors made a notable contribution:

• Tracey D’Afters emphasized the importance of also engaging shops and supermarkets to reduce packaging.
• Serge Liesenborghs requested clarification on implementation dates, distinguishing the pilot phase (October 1, 2025) from the full rollout (March 1, 2026).
• Olivier Thomas reminded participants of the need for respect in the debate, following controversial remarks targeting a local entrepreneur.

Ultimately, the regulation was approved, but in a tense atmosphere, revealing visible fractures within the majority for the first time.

“Impulse” Subsidies for Associations

The municipal executive proposed adjustments to “impulse” subsidies for sports, cultural, and youth associations recognized by the municipality. These subsidies, up to €1,500 twice per year, aim to support associations that renew their activities around several themes, selected based on the majority’s multi-year plan. The new majority proposed two adaptations:

• favor associations registered as UITPAS partners and making the social tariff public;
• introduce a “language stimulation” theme, encouraging activities promoting the use of Dutch among members, managers, and parents. Possible actions include organizing workshops to provide guidance and information on tools for language stimulation, and implementing diversity initiatives for parents, etc.

Alderman Annemie Spaas (NVA) justified this theme by noting that in 2024, 54.3% of young people aged 0–24 in Tervuren are of foreign origin, and in 67.8% of cases, the language spoken from mother to child is not Dutch (Agentschap Groeien data).

Serge Liesenborghs intervened, first stating that he “understands the municipality’s concern” but that it should not become a “compulsive obsession.” He reminded the council that a sports association’s goal is to promote sports and attract members. It is not intended to fulfill the political role that the municipality seeks to play. He emphasized that the municipality cannot impose such obligations on an association, nor encourage them via supplementary subsidies. Club managers have other priorities!

Councilor Lut Kint (NVA) then spoke, emphasizing that “language management (taalbeleid) is the core business of the municipality.”

Councilor Ralph Pakket (NVA) launched a diatribe (raising his voice, at which point President Mario Van Rossum reminded him he had a microphone), claiming support from allophones who moved from Brussels to enjoy Tervuren’s charming and Flemish character. He accused Liesenborghs of attempting to replicate Brussels’ “catastrophic” multicultural policy in Tervuren.

In his final reply, Liesenborghs noted that the previous intervention was completely off-topic, as the debate concerns asking associations to perform activities not provided for in their statutes.

Proposals and Oral Questions

Two proposals were introduced:

• By Bram Peters (Groen+Vooruit): a subsidy regulation in favor of flood prevention measures. The proposal will be studied by the municipal executive, and the councilor agreed to defer the vote. Approximately 150 houses could potentially be affected.
• By Elmo Peeters (Groen+Vooruit): actions, following the example of other municipalities, to draw a red line and denounce the genocide in Gaza. Among the proposed actions, the council approved raising the peace flag and studying the possibility of integrating human rights clauses in public contracts. The council did not follow the councilor on proposals to raise a Palestinian flag, sign the Mesen city petition (left to individual discretion), or reconsider cooperation with companies potentially linked to the Gaza genocide.

At the end of the session, several oral questions were raised:

• On the Fietsersbond proposal to extend the 30 km/h zone to Lindeboom, Ortar De Pauw, and Jezus-Eiklaan streets (Carine Borghans). Alderman Marc Charlier (NVA) considered the accident risk in this area low enough to maintain a maximum speed of 50 km/h.
• On actions taken to address cohabitation issues in the Moorsel (Groenwijk) social neighborhood (Carine Borghans). Mayor Geyns (Voor Tervuren) responded clearly on how the municipality monitors the issue.
• Finally, Geoffroy de Visscher asked about the progress of works and the diversion on Duisburgsesteenweg. He relayed residents’ concerns regarding long and poorly marked detours and disturbances to local businesses. The municipal executive acknowledged the complexity of the works but assured that communication would be strengthened and traffic adjustments considered to reduce inconveniences.

CPAS Council

The shorter CPAS session approved the June minutes, removed a 2019 decision limiting attendance fees at BCSD, and validated the updated overview of intermunicipal social action bodies.

Conclusion

This municipal reopening was marked by contrast: a series of administrative points adopted without discussion, and an exceptionally long and tense debate on waste tariffs. The heterogeneous majority vote on this issue illustrated an unprecedented political fracture. The off-topic and excessive intervention of the Flemish nationalist Pakket was also noted. Tervuren Unie + Volt councilors played an active and constructive role: financial vigilance (de Visscher), social and economic attention (D’Afters), regulatory compliance (Liesenborghs), and a call for respect in democratic debate (Thomas).