Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Antwerp will raise illegal parking fines from €44 to €50 and Leien neighbourhood permits from €89 to €110. Alderman Koen Kennis says changes aim for fair, efficient parking management.
As GVA News reported, Antwerp will raise parking fines and neighbourhood parking fees starting next year. Illegal parking fines will increase from €44 to €50. The change takes effect on January 1, 2026, after city council approval in December 2025.
What changes are coming to Antwerp’s parking fees and permits?
Neighbourhood parking permits’ annual subscriptions will increase from €89 to €110. The board of directors of the Antwerp City Mobility Parking Service made the decision, which was adopted by the city’s Public Administration. Authorities say the increase will help manage parking demand, give residents fair access, and improve traffic flow in busy areas.
Antwerp has shared more details on the new neighbourhood parking fees. The city will divide subscription prices into 3 zones based on how close residents live to the city centre. The closer to the centre, the higher the fee. Residents outside the Ring Road will pay €90 for an annual subscription.
“This city council isn’t just choosing to drive people to pay with annoying fines; they’re also making existing alternatives, like neighbourhood parking, even more expensive,” says Toumi. “Who can deny that parking policy is primarily about filling city coffers? This kind of bullying isn’t going to convince people to leave their cars at home. We should be ensuring there are more and better alternatives.”
Alderman for Mobility Koen Kennis (N-VA) said the changes are part of a regular update and indexation of rates. This happens once every legislative term. The 12.5% indexation is applied to all fees but may be rounded up or down to reach reasonable amounts. Kennis added that the new system is designed to balance fairness, accessibility, and efficiency.
Antwerp has revamped its parking system multiple times. The city initially introduced zone-based parking in the early 2000s to alleviate congestion and prioritise incoming residents. In 2020, the upfront subscription fees and rules, which are managed by a mobile application, were altered to manage demand in popular neighbourhoods.
Other Belgian cities, such as Ghent and Leuven, have also undertaken projects for applying zone-based fees and updating accordingly with frequent zoning or fees to manage traffic and parking space availability.
