Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Flanders’ debt is rising sharply by 3.3%, and from 2028, annual revenues will no longer cover full repayment. The Court of Audit warns of growing financial pressure in its 2026 budget analysis.
As GVA News reported, Flanders is facing a sharp rise in its public debt, and the Court of Audit issued a clear warning. The regional debt is expected to grow from €41.7 billion in 2024 to €74.6 billion in 2030, almost 80% more in just 6 years.
The sharpest increase is expected this year, with a 23% rise due to the takeover of Brussels Airport. In the years that follow, the debt keeps rising by more than 10% each year. From 2028, the debt will be higher than the Flemish government’s total annual revenue.
What does rising Flemish Debt and 3.3% interest mean for public services?
The Court of Audit also points to the rising cost of interest. In 2024, 1.8% of all income already goes to interest payments, and by 2030, that share is expected to reach 3.3%.
“As a result, interest payments are placing an ever-increasing burden on resources, reducing the scope for more policy-related expenditures,“
the Court of Audit states.
The Court of Audit has raised questions about Flanders’ budget plans for next year. The government wants to start collecting speeding fines from average speed cameras itself through a new Flemish Processing Centre by mid-2025. Officials expect this will bring in extra revenue.
The Court warns that the actual income may be lower depending on how well the system works. Cultural spending is also under scrutiny. The government freed up €130 million by cancelling the new Antwerp museum M HKA. Part of this money will go back to the museum sector. At the same time, several museums are being transferred from local authorities to Flanders.
“However, it seems unlikely that the Flemish initiative would generate an additional €50 million in revenue in six months on top of what the federal government has already budgeted,”
it states.
The Court of Audit also points to the transitional measure for renovation grants, which is expected to cost €55 million. The draft budget does not yet reflect this expense. The Court says projected revenues and savings may not happen as planned. The shift of museums adds more financial pressure.
The history of Flanders’ budget and cultural reforms shows several key steps in recent years. Since 2014, the Flemish government has worked on budget reforms to link spending more closely to results. In 2023, it strengthened the system for collecting fines through automatic number‑plate recognition cameras after concerns about gaps in the platform.
On 3 October 2025, the government cancelled the €130 million project to build a new MHKA museum in Antwerp. A few days later, on 6 October 2025, it was announced that most of MHKA’s collection would move to Ghent’s S.M.A.K. museum by 2028.