Oudenaarde (Brussels Morning newspaper) – A De Lijn bus driver in Oudenaarde was violently attacked by a motorist after a traffic dispute, suffering injuries. De Lijn condemned the assault, and prosecutors opened an investigation.
As VRT News reported, a violent attack happened in Oudenaarde, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, on Thursday evening, Aug 14, 2025. A De Lijn bus driver was assaulted by a motorist in the city centre.
The conflict began when the bus was leaving a stop. De Lijn said the bus had the right of way, but this angered the driver of a car behind it. Instead of moving on, the motorist followed the bus to the next stop.
What led to the violent attack on a De Lijn bus driver in Oudenaarde?
At the next stop, the car driver entered the bus and attacked the driver. Passengers witnessed the violent scene.
“The bus had the right of way, but that upset the driver behind the bus,”
Said De Lijn spokesperson Jens Van Herp.
The transport company condemned the aggression. De Lijn warned that such incidents place both staff and passengers in danger. The assault again raises concern about rising violence toward public transport workers in Flanders.
The bus driver attacked in Oudenaarde on Thursday evening was taken to the hospital for treatment. The doctors confirmed that he had a broken nose and bruised jaw. Spokesman De Lijn Jens Van Herp explained that the driver was permitted to return home shortly after, yet the psychological blow of the beating was extremely heavy.
“The man was released from the hospital quickly, but the mental impact was enormous,”
Jens Van Herp said.
De Lijn described the attack as “uncontrolled aggression” and “unacceptable behaviour.” he firmly condemns the act of violence, a spokesperson stated. The East Flanders prosecutor’s office confirmed that an investigation is underway. Prosecutors will move ahead to investigate the case to determine the facts and sue the suspect.
In 2023, there was an attack on a bus driver in Antwerp after he requested a passenger to validate a ticket. In another incident in Limburg, a driver was assaulted by a motorist following a row over traffic. Drivers have also reported being spat at, threatened, or verbally abused while on duty. De Lijn and the unions have raised concerns that these assaults are becoming more frequent.
