Geraardsbergen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Geraardsbergen will redevelop Moerbekeplein without a referendum. Opposition councillor Jens Rottiers requested a vote. Mayor Fernand Van Trimpont cited costs (€52,000), complexity, and precedent. A petition had 1,500 signatures.
As VRT News reported, the city of Geraardsbergen, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, will go ahead with the redevelopment of Moerbekeplein without holding a public referendum. Opposition councillor Jens Rottiers of the Union Party (UP) had requested a vote, but the city rejected it.
“The redevelopment is a major project with consequences for mobility, parking pressure, local businesses, and social cohesion. The responses from residents and businesses show that there is no broad support. Some people feel they are not being heard. We need to not only inform them, but also involve them in decision-making. A referendum is an excellent tool for this,”
said Rottiers.
What’s next for Moerbekeplein as Geraardsbergen rejects referendum?
Officials mentioned that Moerbekeplein is currently a large parking lot and has been a topic of debate for years. The revised plan now includes more parking spaces to address some of the public’s demands. Even after the changes, residents remain concerned about the project.
Mayor Fernand Van Trimpont said a referendum on the redevelopment of Moerbekeplein is not suitable.
“A referendum has a significant impact. All residents of Geraardsbergen should be invited. Polling stations, assessors, chairpersons, deputies, and counting stations should be established. Similar to the elections, then. Invitation letters and information brochures also need to be sent out. That costs the city €52,000, not including personnel costs.”
He explained that referendums only allow yes-or-no answers. This does not reflect the nuanced opinions that residents have about the project. During public consultations, officials found that many people had detailed and varied views on how the square should be redeveloped.
The mayor also pointed to practical concerns. If fewer than 10% of eligible voters take part, the results would not need to be counted. Even if a count is done, the result would not be legally binding.
Van Trimpont added that holding a referendum now could create a precedent, requiring votes for every future redevelopment project. In the end, the city council voted against the proposal. As a result, there will be no referendum, and the redevelopment plans for Moerbekeplein will go ahead.
Moerbekeplein is located beside the train station in the municipality of Geraardsbergen, Geraardsbergen. For many years, the main purpose of the square was to serve as a parking lot, with approximately 192 spaces for commuters, residents, and shoppers. In early 2025, the City of Geraardsbergen announced plans to convert Moerbekeplein into a greener, climate-resilient public area that features trees, plants and water-permeable surfaces.
On April 26, 2025, city officials held a public meeting to present their redevelopment plans for the area and to allow the residents of Moerbekeplein to provide input on the proposed project. Many Moerbekeplein residents expressed concern regarding the planned decrease in parking spaces from 192 to only 60 spaces.
On June 3, 2025, a petition containing nearly 1,500 signatures from Moerbekeplein residents was submitted to the Geraardsbergen City Council. In response to this petition, city officials revised the redevelopment plan and increased the number of parking spaces to 77.
