Aalbeke (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Aalbeke near Kortrijk, over 700 residents oppose Bosschaert’s clay pit project. Despite adjusted plans, protests led by locals like Pieter Valcke continue, citing environmental risks and past permit rejections.
As VRT News reported, in Aalbeke, near Kortrijk, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, the dispute over a planned clay pit has once more caused unrest among residents. The project is led by demolition and road works company Bosschaert, which wants to extract clay on a site in Doomanstraat.
What will happen to Bosschaert Clay Pit after 700 protests?
This time, Bosschaert appealed and adjusted the plans, saying the changes took into account the earlier concerns. Many villagers remain against the project. This morning, Aug 23, 2025, they gathered once again for a protest march, making clear that the clay pit still faces heavy resistance in Aalbeke.
Residents in Aalbeke say the new application from construction company Bosschaert does little to ease their worries about the planned clay pit.
“Essentially nothing has changed,”
said Pieter Valcke, who lives next to the site.
The updated file notes that fewer trucks would pass through the area and that the pit would be dug deeper. Neighbours believe these changes make little difference and do not address the main issues. For them, the revised proposal looks almost the same as the first plan.
“Today’s turnout shows how strong our bond is,”
says Nele Vrand, Pieter Valcke’s wife.
“We are a truly Flemish village where the community stands up for each other.”
The public is concerned that the project will affect the landscape, contaminate groundwater, and harm wildlife. It could lose its habitat if the pit is constructed, as the Great Crested Newt is a protected species. It is also widely believed by the public that the firm intends to fill the pit in the future with excavated soil from other sites, possibly contaminated.
The public inquiry into the updated plans runs until Monday afternoon, Aug 25, 2025, giving residents time to submit objections. After that, the Kortrijk city council will give its advice. Officials have already warned that the changes may not be enough to approve the project.
The conflict over the clay pit in Aalbeke has been ongoing for more than a decade. The first permit request by Bosschaert was submitted around 2013, but it quickly met resistance from locals who feared environmental and health risks. Nearly 300 objections were filed at that time, leading to the rejection of the plan.
In 2023, the company submitted a new request. The step brought new protests in the village. Hundreds of residents joined a march through Aalbeke to show their opposition. During the public inquiry, more than 700 objections were filed, more than double the number from the first round. The permit was once again rejected.
