Kortrijk (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Kortrijk faces protests after drink prices in community centres rose sharply. A petition at De Zonnewijzer gained 300+ signatures. Alderman Wout Saelens admits to poor communication and promises an evaluation.
As VRT News reported, protests were held in Kortrijk after the city raised drink prices in community centres and meeting places. A petition has been launched at the De Zonnewijzer community centre. The petition has already gathered more than 300 signatures from visitors and volunteers who want the city to review its decision.
“This indexation will cover operational costs and harmonise prices across all centres,”
says Alderman for Social Affairs Giovanny Saelens.
What sparked protests over drink price hikes in Kortrijk community centres?
Many residents say the new prices were introduced too fast and without proper notice. They fear the higher costs could reduce attendance and affect the social atmosphere that community centres have built over time.
“We’re afraid the higher prices will keep people away,”
says Jeffrey, who volunteers behind the bar at the community centre.
“I’m thinking especially of the underprivileged and the homeless, and those looking for warmth and a chat. The community centres’ function as meeting places is in danger of disappearing. Non-alcoholic beers are much less popular now, and so is cola. You might as well go and have a cola in a cafe.”
“It’s ridiculous that in a cafeteria of a community centre, where socialising is the main focus, the alderman is talking about market-based prices,”
says Lieven, one of the visitors at De Zonnewizer.
Alderman Wout Saelens has admitted that the communication about the new prices was not handled properly.
“It certainly didn’t go well. We should have informed the volunteers and visitors about this sooner,”
he said. Saelens explained that the city will now evaluate the impact of the price increase in the coming weeks.
Officials will monitor visitor numbers and hold meetings with volunteers to discuss their feedback. The city has said it is open to making changes if the review shows the higher prices are causing problems.
At the end of September 2025, the city council decided to introduce a standard pricing policy across all municipal venues. By early October 2025, the price of a bottle of water or cola had been increased from €1 to €2.50, and a cup of coffee had seen a similar rise in price from €0.60 to €1.
Volunteers and visitors to these municipal venues said they were not notified in advance of the increased pricing and did not become aware of the changes until the new prices were already implemented.
Similar incidents have happened in the rest of Belgium when prices changed locally, leading to public outcry. In June 2025, teachers in Flemish adult education protested against a proposed hike in registration fees, stating it would make learning unaffordable and inaccessible.
Earlier in June 2022, around 80,000 people protested in Brussels against the rising cost of living, which included increased prices of energy, services, and basic goods. While we are not aware of any other city which has reported a protest about drinking prices in community centres.
