Belgian cities tighten parking enforcement, raising fees and adding new penalties

The city of Leuven has eliminated the previous two‑hour limit on street‑parking sessions. Under the new rules, parking sessions continue automatically until the end of the paying period (typically 19:00 or 21:00), so drivers who forget to stop the timer can see charges rise rapidly, with some reporting bills of €50. Professor Koen Lemmens criticised the change as a “cynical way to squeeze money from citizens” and noted that the municipal parking operation generated €11.27 million in 2025.

In Sint‑Truiden, mayor Ludwig Vandenhove announced a tougher approach to unpaid parking tickets. The city will employ bailiffs to collect outstanding fines, especially targeting drivers with foreign licence plates, and will introduce wheel‑clamps for repeat offenders. Vandenhove said the measures aim to ensure that parking rules apply equally to all motorists and to increase collection rates from the current low level.