Veurne (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Veurne is creating a local volunteer corps supported by the Red Cross. Mayor Peter Roose says trained residents aged 16+ will assist in crises, supporting police, fire, and health services.
As VRT News reported, the municipality of Veurne, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, has decided to create its own volunteer corps. Like 30 other Flemish municipalities that already responded to the government’s call earlier this year.
What role will Veurne’s volunteer corps play in crises?
In West Flanders, cities such as Kortrijk and Tielt start working with local volunteers. Verne is now preparing its own corps, with recruitment and training to follow in the next few months. Local officials say the new group will work alongside police, fire, and health services.
Veurne has started work on creating a new volunteer corps in cooperation with the Red Cross Flanders. Mayor Peter Roose (Veurne Plus) explained that every volunteer who joins will be given compulsory training by the Red Cross before they can take part in any mission.
“Think of filling and distributing sandbags during a flood or handing out water during a major traffic jam on the highway,” says Roose
The mayor stated that this initiative will not replace professional services. He talked about there being official emergency services that will always do the medical care, policing, and fighting fires.
Volunteers will do other tasks like supplies, establishing shelters, supporting people in need and the relief work so that the operation runs smoothly. Anyone wishing to volunteer must be a Veurne resident and older than 16. Registration is possible through the official city website at www.veurne.be/vrijwilligerskorps.
The initiative to form a volunteer corps in Flemish towns comes after the July 2021 floods. In April 2025, the Flemish government launched the Defence Plan to give municipalities more tools and manpower in emergencies.
At the same time, Interior Minister Hilde Crevits (CD&V) presented the Civil Resilience Program, which calls on towns to bring together residents and provide them with basic training in crisis response and first aid.
