Sint-Niklaas (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The underground parking garage beneath Sint-Niklaas’ Grote Markt, renovated in June, flooded on Monday, Oct 27, 2025, after heavy rain. Pumps failed temporarily, Carl Hanssens (Alderman) confirmed that repairs and contractor sealing are ongoing.
As VRT News reported, the underground parking garage beneath the Grote Markt in Sint-Niklaas flooded on Monday morning, Oct 27, 2025. Water had already been seeping into the garage a few weeks ago. At that time, it was discovered that a damaged cable duct containing an old electrical cable was letting water enter the lot. The problem was noted but not fully fixed. Heavy rainfall over the past weeks made the situation worse and caused more water to accumulate in the parking garage.
Why did Sint-Niklaas’ underground garage flood despite renovation and pumps?
The pumps designed to remove water from the lowest areas of the garage did not work as expected. This left parts of the parking lot underwater for a while. Carl Hanssens, Alderman for Urban Development (N-VA), said the pumps are now operating and the water has been cleared.
An investigation is underway to find out why the pumps in the underground parking garage beneath the Grote Markt in Sint-Niklaas did not start automatically during the recent flooding. Authorities are checking the system to understand what went wrong. The city has also asked the contractor to seal the damaged cable duct that allowed water to enter.
The underground parking garage under the Grote Markt in Sint-Niklaas was built in the 1970s to serve the city centre. Over the years, it had several maintenance updates, but the structure began to show signs of wear. The underground parking garage and the Grote Markt were recently renovated and reopened in June 2025.
Alderman for Urban Development Carl Hanssens (N-VA) said the improvements have generally been successful, but problems like the recent flooding cannot always be predicted. He added that the main focus is to fully fix the issue and that the city is taking all measures to keep the garage safe and operational for the future.
