Schoten (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A new Dementia Drop-in Centre opened in Schoten, supported by Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen, First Line Zone North Antwerp, the municipality, and 8 organisations, helping people with dementia and caregivers.
As VRT News reported, a new Dementia Drop-in Centre opened today, Dec 2, 2025, at the Schoten Service Centre, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. The centre is aimed at people with early-stage dementia and their caregivers. It is a joint project by the Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen, the First Line Zone North Antwerp, the municipality of Schoten, and 8 other local organisations.
“We already organise several information evenings about dementia. These evenings are very popular, but we want to reach even more people,”
says Alderman for Care and Welfare Véronique d’Exelle (N-VA).
“We need to be even more accessible,” she continues. “The location is central, and people from outside Schoten can also get here by bus.”
What does Schoten’s new Dementia Drop-in Centre offer for patients and caregivers?
The centre has 2 separate areas, each designed for specific activities and support. Visitors can meet others, take part in activities, and receive advice in a safe and welcoming space. “In the first space, visitors are welcomed by volunteers. They have a brief conversation with people and help them where they can. If they have specific questions, they are referred to the second space, where various professionals can assist them,”
explains Lin Smets of Alzheimer League Flanders.
Smets, a spokesperson for the project, said there is a high demand for more meeting places for people with early-stage dementia. Caregivers can also benefit from the centre by finding support and guidance. The drop-in centre is more than a social space. It also offers information, raises awareness, and connects the community.
“We’re noticing at other drop-in centres that there are many regular visitors, but also that new people are constantly coming in,”
Smets said.
Officials mentioned that longer life expectancy is a main reason for this increase. Age is the most important risk factor. Among people over 90, 1 in 3 has dementia.
Caregiver Antoin Dumon welcomed the opening of a Dementia Drop-in Centre in Schoten. “My wife has a severe form of Alzheimer’s. The disease has progressed significantly, and now she is 100% dependent on me. We still live together at home, but I think it’s fantastic that I can come here with all my questions.”
“My advice is never to be angry and to have a lot of empathy.”
Antoin Dumon (78)
“It’s very different being a caregiver for your spouse than for your father or mother, for example. My advice is never to be angry, to have a lot of empathy, and to do everything with your heart and soul”
Until now, these centres were mostly in larger cities in the province of Antwerp, such as Antwerp, Mechelen, Turnhout, Lier, and Herentals. For the first time, a smaller municipality like Schoten has its own centre. The drop-in centre is open every first Tuesday of the month from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
The number of individuals living with dementia has experienced significant growth over the past 20 years in Flanders. In the year 2000, 1.2% of individuals aged 65+ had dementia, while in 2021, this percentage increased to 2.4%. In order to address this growing concern, the Flemish Government initiated the Dementia Plan 2021-2025 on September 20th, 2021.
The Dementia Plan is an initiative that will improve home care services, provide support for informal caregivers and increase the overall support services provided to individuals living with dementia.
According to the most recent estimates for the year 2025, there are approximately 152,000 individuals living with dementia in Flanders and Brussels. Experts predict this number will increase to 210,000 individuals living with dementia in 2040, or 40% more than the number currently living in Flanders and Brussels, due to the rapidly growing population over the age of 65.
