Belgian municipalities launch 2026 bike hunts, parking reforms and trambus project

Several local authorities in Belgium announced a series of initiatives slated for 2026. The municipalities of Staden, Houthulst and Langemark‑Poelkapelle will host the free HoLa‑PoSta! summer bike treasure hunt, a 39‑km route for families running from 1 July to 31 August 2026. Damme introduced new parking rules on 1 June, creating blue‑zone areas with a flat €2 hourly rate and expanded resident‑card options. Harelbeke will apply a new waste‑retribution system from 1 January 2026, switching to weight‑based fees and ending the sale of garbage bags at the city hall. A larger bicycle search, “Harten van de Polders”, will run across Koekelare, Gistel and Middelkerke from 25 May to 31 August 2026, offering vouchers and a weekend stay for successful participants. Ternat revised its blue‑zone parking scheme in October 2025 and now offers a digital residents’ card to improve turnover. The Diepenbeek campus is preparing a dedicated bus lane and separate cycle‑pedestrian path for the upcoming Hasselt–Maasmechelen trambus, with works expected to finish by late 2026. In Genk, the city promotes seven colour‑coded cycling routes, safety days and a bike‑share programme to encourage active transport. Together, these measures aim to boost local tourism, improve traffic management and encourage sustainable mobility across Belgian communities.