Koksijde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Koksijde will tax long-vacant shops from 2026 and support entrepreneurs. Alderman Patricia Vandenbroucke leads the plan, with aid like Open Property Day and a new city centre manager.
As VRT News reported, Koksijde, Belgium, is tackling empty shops with a new plan. They’ll start taxing owners of vacant commercial properties in 2026. Alderman Patricia Vandenbroucke says the previous leaders didn’t do this, but research shows it works. She mentioned that the goal is to stop owners from ignoring their empty spaces and get them to rent or fix them up.
The tax is for places that stay empty for a long time. Alderman said that this is part of a bigger plan to bring business back to the town, especially in areas that have slowed down. By making it cost money to leave shops empty, the city hopes to help local businesses and stop shopping streets from getting worse.
“But with such a tax alone, you will not make it,”
Alderman Patricia Vandenbroucke realises.
“That is why there will also be support measures for entrepreneurs.”
How is Koksijde reviving empty shops and supporting business?
The town is also helping businesses with a new service. This service supports all entrepreneurs, including doctors and artists. According to the officials, a second-hand store, Kringloopwinkel West, will open in an empty shop soon.
Koksijde will host an Open Property Day after the summer. This event allows entrepreneurs to view empty commercial spaces. They can see the potential of these spaces. The goal is to connect real estate with local businesses.
According to Patricia Vandenbroucke, the town wants to help potential tenants understand the buildings. They will learn about floor space, storage, and systems like cooling and heating. These details are important for starting or expanding a business.
Koksijde is hiring a city centre manager. This person will help local businesses and manage commercial areas. The manager will work in Koksijde and nearby areas. They will connect businesses with the town government. They mentioned that this will help them work together to solve problems.
Koksijde also plans to give financial help. This includes money for things like fixing building fronts. It also covers making shops easier to use. The town hopes these actions will bring new life to its business areas. They aim to support businesses with events, guidance, and money.
