Turnhout (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Turnhout, residents queue for parking permits before the new policy starts Jan 1, 2026. Alderman Stijn Adriansens assures a tolerance period until the end of January; online applications are available.
As VRT News reported, in Turnhout, residents have been waiting in long lines at the city’s parking office. Many are rushing to get their permits before a new parking policy begins in January 2026.
“We have chosen to expand the residents’ zone so that our residents can park for free and do not face too much competition from visitors,”
Alderman Adriaensens said.
What are Turnhout residents doing to prepare for the new Jan 1 parking rules?
Officials mentioned that the high demand has caused long waits at the parking office. Many residents said they want to have their permits ready before the New Year.
“We want to get our cards quickly so everything is in order when the new rules start,”
said one resident.
Officials said that the new system is fair. It will help locals find parking more easily and reduce stress on the streets.
“I’m joining because it’s not entirely clear to me whether my street is in the paid zone or not. I brought some photos with me and hope this will provide more clarity,”
says another resident.
“Our residents still have a whole month to get a resident card.”
Stijn Adriaensens, Alderman for Mobility (N-VA cd&v)
Alderman Adriansens reassured Turnhout residents that they will have enough time to secure their parking permits despite the new rules coming into effect.
“The parking policy officially starts tomorrow, but we are maintaining a tolerance period until the end of January,”
he said.
“This means residents still have a full month to apply for a permit and get everything in order.”
City officials are also encouraging residents to apply online through the municipal website. Despite this, many residents still have questions about the new system and how it will work. Officials say they are ready to provide guidance and support.
“I don’t really know how a resident card works and what to do if people want to come visit,”
they say.
“There’s nothing online about the disability policy. My wife is in a wheelchair, and we don’t know what will happen to our disability card. Getting around Turnhout in a wheelchair is a nightmare, so we’re here to ask for more information,”
says a resident.
“Anyone with additional questions can send them to stroming@turnhout be,”
said Adriaensens.
As new regulations begin on New Year’s Day, residents in Turnhout have begun waiting in lines for parking permits. In January 2020, when Turnhout first introduced its resident-permit system, there were also long lines at the city’s office as people rushed to get their parking permits. This trend of waiting in line for parking permits has occurred in other cities across Belgium and the Netherlands whenever they introduced new parking restrictions.
