Lokeren (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – East Flanders rejected Lokeren residents’ July complaint against Lokerse Feestenzone. Mayor Filip Anthuenis and festival spokesperson Steven Latre stressed minimising noise, generators, and crowd disruption. Festival ran August 1–10, 2025.
As VRT News reported, the East Flanders provincial government has rejected a complaint from several residents of Lokeren. Many of the residents are older and say the Lokerse Feestenzone festival causes serious disturbance. They pointed to the loud music, large crowds, and the constant running of generators.
What led East Flanders to reject the Lokeren residents’ Lokerse Feestenzone complaint?
The group had filed the complaint in July 2025, challenging the permit for the festival. Authorities decided the complaint does not meet the legal requirements to block or change the permit.
“Over the past 20 years, the city has issued building permits for several hundred homes,”
say residents,
“even though they were aware of the festival’s impact on the quality of life. Lokeren never surveyed us about the festival’s impact. If they can’t guarantee acceptable living conditions, shouldn’t they consider organising a festival of that size outside the city centre?”
Residents of Lokeren who opposed the Lokerse Feestenzone festival received support from provincial authorities. The provincial environmental officer and the provincial noise expert both reviewed the case and gave negative recommendations for the permit. They raised concerns about the high number of generators and the noise they create.
Despite these warnings, the East Flanders provincial executive decided the complaint was no longer relevant because the festival had already taken place. The organising non-profit applied for the permit on June 2nd, 2025, and received approval from the city on July 14th, 2025. The festival began on August 1st, 2025.
The residents filed their appeal with the provincial government on July 31st, 2025, while the permit process was still ongoing.
“It appears that all parties are willing to keep the inconvenience as small as possible.”
Filip Anthuenis, mayor of Lokeren (Local Liberal)
The city of Lokeren is aware of the procedure,
“and in the future we will try to mediate to minimize the inconvenience,”
says Mayor Filip Anthuehis (Lokaal Liberal).
“But at the same time, we are very happy with the festival and proud of the Lokerse and Fonnefeesten. We want them to continue for many years to come. However, additional efforts are needed to ensure that local residents and non-partying Lokeren residents experience as little inconvenience as possible.
Recent discussions have already shown that all parties are willing to make this happen.”
“Year after year, we focus on innovation and improvement.”
Steven Latre, spokesperson for the Lokerse Feesten
“As a festival, we attach great importance to complying with all legal frameworks and standards, with particular attention to noise, the environment, and safety,”
says Steven Latre of Lokerse Feesten.
“Every year, we strive for innovation and improvement by investing extra in sustainable mobility and recycling. This way, we try to minimise any potential disruption. Whether or not measures will be taken for the next edition, and what they will be, we cannot yet confirm. We are still in full preparation.
We are currently working hard on our new environmental permit application.”
In 1975, the Lokerse Feesten started as a local music festival in Lokeren. Since its inception, the festival has experienced tremendous growth to become one of Belgium’s largest summer events. The first festival was held at the Oude Vismijn; however, in 1994, it relocated to the Grote Kaai located in the centre of Lokeren, and since then, it has continued to run for a duration of 10 days every summertime, attracting large audiences with different genres of music such as Rock & Pop, Metal, Dance and Electronic. In 2025, the festival celebrated its 50th Anniversary.
