Kortrijk (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Starting September 1, 2025, Kortrijk will introduce a blue line at the Oudenaardsesteenweg bus stop. Police will enforce compliance, fines can reach €500, and De Lijn adjusts operations under Mayor Ruth Vandenberghe’s directive.
As VRT News reported, from September 1, 2025, stricter rules will apply at the bus stop on Oudenaardsesteenweg in Kortrijk. Schoolchildren waiting for the bus will have to stay behind a blue line that has been placed at the stop. Anyone who ignores this measure risks a GAS fine.
After years of complaints from residents, the city has decided to take action. Near the intersection with Beekstraat, several schools are located, and many students gather there every day. Resident Emanuel Van den Hove says the situation has changed a lot in recent years. He has lived there for 12 years and explains that the nuisance has only grown worse.
“More and more students are taking the bus here,”
Emanuel continues.
“While they wait, they stand in our driveways or sit on our windowsills, which reduces the amount of natural light. We also often see pushing and shoving among the young people, and sometimes they knock on the windows with their school bags.”
What measures is Kortrijk taking against student nuisance from September 1?
Police confirm they have received many reports about the behaviour of students in the area. People complain about waste being left behind, cars being leaned on, and knocking on windows, doors, and mailboxes.
Mayor Ruth Vandenberghe (Team Burgemeester) says the problem is more serious than a simple disturbance.
“We see this in the official reports from our police,”
she explains. The city has therefore decided to act firmly.
A new safety project has been introduced to tackle the crowding problem at bus stops near schools. A clear blue line is now painted in front of many houses to keep youngsters from stepping into the street.
The initiative comes after talks with residents, the police, several schools, and transport company De Lijn. Schools will also be involved in an awareness drive to teach children the importance of staying behind the blue line.
Authorities have warned that those violating the rules will be penalised. Fines can be €175 for minors and up to €500 for adults. Police officers will be present during site hours at peak times to monitor the situation.
At the same time, De Lijn will reorganise its services by dispersing its buses more evenly and by providing more trips at the busiest times. There will even be some buses that will leave from 2 different locations and at staggered intervals to lessen congestion at the Oudenaardsesteenweg stop.
Resident Emanuel is cautious.
“We’ve already raised awareness here, asking people to keep their driveways clear, but they didn’t heed that request. Hopefully, with the blue line and the mayor’s decree, we can take more effective action now.”
In recent years, several Flemish cities have introduced stricter rules at busy school bus stops to address safety concerns and neighbourhood nuisance. In 2021, Aalst tested crowd-control measures near school stops after repeated complaints from residents about students blocking driveways and leaving litter.
In 2022, Ghent painted warning lines at certain stops and launched awareness campaigns in cooperation with De Lijn and local schools to reduce conflicts between commuters and students. Similar actions were also noted in Bruges in 2023, where police increased patrols around school bus stops following reports of fights and vandalism.
