Horeca Leuven’s chairman, Kevin Vanderauwera, has announced a withdrawal from the city’s consultation bodies, citing ongoing frustrations with event regulations and unequal treatment of local hospitality businesses. On 2025-05-29 16:19:00, Vanderauwera published an open letter addressing the city of Leuven, highlighting key grievances that have led to this decision.
- Voorzitter Horeca Leuven stopt samenwerking overleg
- Eist gelijke regels voor horeca en evenementen
- Kritiseert extra foodtrucks zonder controle en belastingen
- Benadrukt gebrek aan voorzieningen bij evenementen
- Vraagt betere toegankelijkheid voor minder mobiele mensen
- Waarschuwt tegen ongelijke alcoholregelgeving en misbruik
The primary issues raised include the proliferation of extra food and beverage stalls during events like Bondgenieten, which Vanderauwera argues operate under different rules than regular horeca venues. He stresses the importance of fair play and equal regulations for all hospitality providers in Leuven’s city centre.
With tensions rising, what does this mean for the future collaboration between Leuven’s horeca sector and city officials? The following summary outlines the core concerns and potential implications for local businesses.
Why is Horeca Leuven stepping back now, and what does this say about city-event partnerships? The open letter reveals frustrations over:
- Unregulated extra food and beverage stalls avoiding taxes and controls that regular horeca must follow
- Insufficient public amenities like toilets and waste bins during large events, burdening local businesses
- Barriers to accessibility, especially with blocked routes affecting less mobile visitors
- Inconsistent alcohol service rules, where event stands can serve stronger drinks than licensed horeca terraces
These points raise critical questions about fairness and the sustainability of Leuven’s event policies. How can the city balance vibrant public events with the needs of its established horeca community?
Moving forward, Leuven’s city council and horeca sector must engage in meaningful dialogue to restore trust and ensure that all hospitality players operate on a level playing field. Will Leuven rise to the challenge and create a more inclusive framework for future collaborations?
