Tielt-Winge (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Freddy Konings can end his relationship with the loyal burger customers of his stand after leaving behind his established location. The changes implemented by the municipality forced Freddy to move his food stand away from its previous location in front of Gouden Kruispunt in Tielt-Winge last week.
Freddy Konings now has the opportunity to properly part with customers who loved his hamburger stand near Gouden Kruispunt in Tielt-Winge following a sudden departure because he chose not to pursue new regulations. Freddy decided not to submit an application for itinerant business permits since he was nearing retirement; therefore, he had to leave his post hastily.
A farewell event is planned by his family for May 1 in a nearby meadow since they will operate the hamburger stand in his place to give him an opportunity to say goodbye to all his customers.
Freddy Konings removed his enterprises from Aarschotsesteenweg in Tielt-Winge during the first week of April because the municipality had pre-determinedly changed their operational guidelines.
Freddy Konings lost the chance to farewell his long-standing regular customers and had maintained relationships with them throughout 30 years of service. News of the business’s move away from its standard location led fans to organise online support for the affected establishment.
“A lot of my regular customers had also become friends by now. Some had been coming for over 30 years, both people from the neighborhood and people who work here or pass by, but people also came from much further for my burgers. I haven’t seen many of them anymore, and so I haven’t been able to say a proper goodbye,”
says Freddy.
They are getting help from the people of the nearby castle of Troostenberg.
“The owners suggested that we could use a meadow near the castle to set up the hamburger stand one last time. The man from the castle also came to get a hamburger every now and then, and of course they have been passing by my hamburger stand for 30 years. Because my stand was less than 200 meters from the castle.”
On May 1, Freddy will say goodbye to his loyal customers, with hamburgers, but he won’t have to bake them himself.
“My wife and children have offered to do that, so I can have a chat and say goodbye to my customers in a good and beautiful way.”
What are the key statistics and regulations affecting mobile vendors in tielt-Winge?
Tielt-Winge, located in Belgium‘s Flemish Brabant province, began implementing stricter regulations controlling mobile business operations in public spaces during the last few years. Starting in April 2024, municipalities will require all itinerant businesses to obtain permits, which will help control public areas and support business fairness.
Local government records show that more than fifteen mobile vendors worked in the region until they eventually stopped operating after decades without obtaining authorisation.
At least three decades of operation concluded for the well-known Freddy Konings’ hamburger stand at the Gouden Kruispunt. The municipality’s statistics reveal a low number of vendors—five—as they attempted to acquire the new permit, although numerous established operators, including Freddy, chose to depart instead of going through official procedures.
The proprietor reported serving 200-300 customers each week ,among customers who belonged to multiple generations.
More than 1,200 social media users interacted with content about Freddy’s absence following the policy transition. Recent municipal debates on mobile vendor permitting have appeared in towns near Diest, like Rotselaar and Holsbeek. A public farewell celebration organised for Freddy is scheduled on May 1 to recognise the cultural value that small local businesses bring to rural Flanders communities. The local government understands public sentiment but confirms that these rules follow regional urban planning mandates.
