Holiday accommodations will soon need to submit a conformity certificate from their local council before they can be recognized by Tourism Flanders (Toerisme Vlaanderen). The Flemish Government is strengthening its oversight in a bid to reduce the number of illegal short-term rentals, which includes a growing number of Airbnb accomodations, the world’s favourite tourism villain (next to cruises). 

Mayors will be given greater powers to take action against what is regarded as an oversupply in the market, De Standaard reports on 16 June 20215. 

Koksijde

To address the proliferation of holiday accommodations in ordinary residential neighbourhoods, Koksijde (Coxyde), on Belgium‘s coast, is introducing a pause on new permits until January 2028, De Standaard reported on 14 June. Mayor Sander Loones (N-VA) plans to use this period to identify unlicensed holiday lets and enable their eventual regularisation. His aim is to get a head start on the new Flemish tourism policy, which many people may find surprising.

Policy note

The policy has gone somewhat under the radar until now, but in her policy note, Deputy Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, Flemish Minister for Housing, Energy and Climate, Tourism and Youth Melissa Depraetere (Vooruit) promises to modify the lodging decree. The main change is that all holiday accommodations will soon need to submit a conformity certificate from their local council before they can be recognized by Tourism Flanders. Depraetere intends to bring forward a proposal after the summer.

Furthermore, the Flemish government is strengthening its ability to identify holiday accommodations that do not hold a licence. The new European legislation obliges platforms such as Airbnb to share all registered addresses with the government. This will enable local authorities to gain much greater oversight of the illegal market.

What does the policy note say?

6.2.2 Operational Target 2.2 Promoting and monitoring the quality of accommodation in Flanders within the framework of the Flemish accommodation decree.

The Flemish accommodation decree plays a crucial role in guaranteeing the safety, quality and comfort of visitors staying in Flanders. In addition, it strives for a level playing field for the sector. I pay special attention to coaching youth accommodation in their quest for new recognition by the end of 2025. Through subsidies, I support them to meet the new fire safety standards and to renew their fire safety certificate. In consultation with the department of culture, youth and media, I simplify the support of youth accommodation by bundling all infrastructure subsidies for youth accommodation with Tourism Flanders.

In addition, I provide subsidies for accommodation to take climate measures to achieve a climate-neutral society by 2050. In close consultation with the sector, I identify the support needs to offer guests an unforgettable stay and investigate which instruments are most suitable to optimally support the sector.

Internet platforms and short-term rentals have experienced strong growth in recent years. Although the diversity of accommodations contributes positively to tourism, an oversupply sometimes also has negative consequences for the local community. The recent European Union regulation on short-term rental services provides more transparency and insight into the entire online accommodation offer. The mandatory data sharing by the internet platforms will contribute to a balanced market. In this context, I will make the Flemish accommodation decree compliant with the EU regulation.

After the evaluation of the accommodation decree, the urban development conformity of tourist accommodation was reintroduced in the decree as a tourist operating condition.

Local authorities play a crucial role in enforcing the urban development obligations. To support them in this, I am organising a round table and information sessions with the Department of Environment and the Flemish Association of Cities and Municipalities (VVSG). 

In addition, I will amend the accommodation decree so that accommodation cannot be recognised as a tourist accommodation by Tourism Flanders or receive a star classification without confirmation from the local authority that the accommodation is compliant with urban development. 

Using urban development conformity certificates, we monitor the quality, safety and capacity of the short-term rental market in Flanders and the residential function in our cities is protected. The local authority will of course remain responsible for enforcing this conformity.

Housing for single people

Not only in Koksijde but across Flanders, municipalities will soon have greater power to intervene in their tourism markets. 

Cities such as Bruges and Ghent will be able to identify and pursue unlicensed holiday accommodations. This is not a luxury but a necessity, minister Depraetere stressed, noting that there is a major shortage of affordable housing while Airbnbs continue to appear in growing numbers along the coastline and in city centres — a number of them without proper licences.

Such accommodations are much needed for the regular rental market. Often, these are apartments or houses desirable for single people — precisely where the shortage is most acute. The aim is to make sure that homes meant for permanent residence are used for that purpose, while tourists are assured a high standard of holiday accommodation. This cannot be guaranteed in unlicensed properties, where there may be issues with damp, poor maintenance or fire safety.

Oversupply and rising concerns

The policy note also highlights growing worries about the effects of an oversupply of holiday accommodations. Depraetere refers to the strong growth of platforms and short-term lets and the need for a more balanced market.

While the diversity of accommodations contributes positively to tourism, an excess can sometimes undermine the local community.

Loones made clear in De Standaard that he wants to see a healthy mix in his community — permanent residents alongside secondary homeowners and tourists. 

Some people are left isolated in their own neighbourhoods during the off-season, adding to a growing feeling of vulnerability. The social cost of this, he said, is all too often disregarded. According to him, the problem applies not just to Koksijde but to the entire coastline and all tourist cities.

Local authorities

The Flemish government emphasizes that municipalities will soon have greater power, through conformity certificates, to oversee the quality, safety and capacity of the short-term rental market and protect the residential function in their cities. Local authorities will also play a crucial role in inspecting holiday accommodations and in enforcing regulations.

Loones stressed that other municipalities should prepare for a thorough investigation of their holiday accommodations and for a process of notifying their landlords. 

In Koksijde, there will be a clear and accessible procedure for regularisation. If other municipalities do not take action, he said, within a few years they will have to account to their tourism sectors for the chaos that results. 

Once the Tourism Flanders database is cleaned up, penalties will follow for those accommodations that remain unlicensed. All stakeholders are therefore on notice.

Some tourism statistics

• Belgium sees modest tourism growth in 2024, led by Flanders and Brussels.
• Travel in 2024: Spain, France, USA, China, Mexico lose ground and Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, UAE to grow market share.
• France, Spain, USA, China and Italy most visited countries in the world, Belgium 41st.
• France welcomed 100 million international visitors in 2024.
• Turkey welcomed 62 million international tourists who together spent $61 billion in 2024.
• SPAIN | 94 million international visitors and €108.7 billion tourism income in 2024.
• UN WORLD TOURISM BAROMETER | International tourism recovers pre-pandemic levels in 2024.
• Outside the EU, Europeans mostly travel to Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
• Intra-European travel mostly for fun and / or family.
• Europeans visit other European countries over 7 nights on average.

On tourism

• ​Belgians choose safety, sustainability and convenience for summer travel: climate change, geopolitical instability and flight convenience shape 2025 holiday trends.
• OVERTOURISM | Alternatives for Venice, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Santorini, Paris, Dubrovnik, London and Rome?.
• Belgians book Asia, vintage travel and boutique hotels for spring and summer 2025.
• There’s more than one way to enjoy a cruise.
• SOLO TRAVEL | More expensive, but also some advantages.
• Flanders updates star classification for hotels.
• WINTER IN ANTWERP 2024-2025 | 1.3M visitors, 120K for New Year’s fireworks, 64.4% hotel occupancy.
• OPINION | Travelling on a package holiday.
• Are there too many hotels in Antwerp?.
• ANTWERP SUMMER 2024 | 2.7 million day tourists and 493K overnight stays.
• 2024 | Twice as many Belgians will travel by train this summer.
• Spain saw a surge of Belgians visiting in the first quarter of 2024.
• Antwerp number 1 of 40 most exciting cities to visit in 2024.
• Antwerp’s municipal museums welcomed over 1.5 million visitors in 2023.
• CLIMATE CHANGE & TRAVEL | Is Belgium ready to be the Spain and Italy of the future?.
• Condé Nast Traveler praises Antwerp as one of the Best Places to Go in 2024 in Europe.
• Flanders’ art cities residents still proud of their city, but highlight drawbacks of tourism more
• Antwerp hotel industry demands stricter rules and enforcement for Airbnb as business tourism is not recovering.
• ANTWERP | 13.5 million day tourists, 2.6 million overnight stays and less Dutch visitors in 2023.
• ANTWERP | 2022 tourism statistics show recovery towards 2019 numbers.
• City happy with Winter in Antwerp 2022-2023 edition.
• City sees Winter in Antwerp 2023-2024 breaking attendance records.
• Belgians make 4.5 million day trips to Antwerp every year.
• ANTWERP | 2.2 million day tourists and 398K overnight stays in the summer of 2023.
• ANTWERP | 2 million day tourists and 337K overnight stays in the summer of 2022.
• Belgians travelled massively in the first quarter of 2022.
• The Major Flaws of domestic tourism in Belgium.
• Discovering Belgium and the Netherlands in COVID times.