Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The new Verapaz Bridge in Ghent, which opened on July 11, faces graffiti vandalism. Roads and Traffic Agency spokesperson Jef Schoenmaekers urges respect, cleanup, and awareness posters to prevent further damage.
As VRT News reported, the Roads and Traffic Agency has asked people in Ghent to stop adding graffiti to the new Verapaz Bridge, which has only been open since July 11, 2025. The bridge links the inner ring road with Afrikalaan and is already showing signs of vandalism.
Officials say this is a major concern because the project was designed as more than a traffic link. Spokesperson Jef Schoenmaekers explained that he understands why the bridge looks inviting to street artists, but stressed that the bridge itself must be respected.
“One art form cannot be at the cost of another,”
he said.
Why is Ghent’s new Verapaz bridge being targeted by graffiti?
Jef Schoenmaekers of the Roads and Traffic Agency explained that the area around the structure already carried graffiti on the old gravel pits, which may have led to confusion. Schoenmaekers explained that street artists might have seen very little difference between the gravel pits and the new bridge, which takes away from the idea of knowing where a person can paint and where they should not.
Schoenmaekers was adamant that the goal is still to not just stop the graffiti, but also to explain why the bridge needs to stay clean. She said the agency wants to address this while expressing understanding, but at the same time, can still acknowledge the structure of the bridge.
The Roads and Traffic Agency have confirmed the graffiti will be removed from the bridge without delay. Once the cleanup is complete, the agency plans to put up awareness posters in the area. These posters will clearly show what is part of the bridge structure and state that no graffiti is allowed there.
In Bruges, newly installed rainbow benches were vandalised with graffiti on May 17, 2024, just one day after being placed in the city to mark the International Day Against LGBT and Transphobia.
The benches, meant as a symbol of inclusion, were sprayed with the words “only white pride”. Mayor Dirk De Fauw condemned the act as unacceptable and said the city would not tolerate such behaviour. The graffiti was removed quickly.
