Aalst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Aalst will invest €614,000 for a new police station at the railway station and €940,000 at Keizershallen, Mayor Christoph D’Haese announced, to strengthen safety and order.
As VRT News reported, a new police station will be set up at Aalst station to tackle ongoing safety problems in the area. In the 2026 budget, Aalst has reserved €614,000 for new safety projects. Opposition parties had been asking for this step for years, but the mayor had resisted until now.
Mayor Christoph D’Haese:
“How and when such a police station can be established will only become clear when the multi-year plan is announced. But we are indeed working on a permanent police presence in the neighbourhood.”
What will new police stations mean for safety in Aalst?Police have been responding swiftly in the Aalst station area over the past few months, which has led to a clear improvement in safety. To keep control, the ban on public gatherings and identity checks will stay in force until the end of this month. The alcohol ban will continue until December 17, 2025.
“We will soon analyse whether an extension is necessary,”
said D’Haese.
The 2026 city budget also sets aside €940,000 for a new police station at the Keizershallen site. The plan, first announced last year, is part of a wider project to redevelop the current parking area. Alongside the new police post, the site will include a fire station and a public square that will be used for the annual winter fair and other local events.
Safety problems around Aalst station began to draw attention in 2022, when reports of drug dealing, fights, and vandalism increased. The situation worsened in early 2024, leading Mayor Christoph D’Haese (N-VA) to take stronger steps.
In May 2024, he ordered the temporary closure of a café linked to drug activity. Soon after, he introduced an alcohol ban and a ban on public gatherings to restore calm. Through 2025, police carried out regular patrols and identity checks, which improved safety but did not end the disturbances completely.
