Schaarbeek Ends 2-Hour Free Parking.. Major Change Impacts Belgian Commuters

Free parking in Schaarbeek’s green zones for visitors has been a welcome convenience for nearly two years. However, as of 2025-06-01 09:36:00, this popular option will disappear from parking meters. The municipality has confirmed that the two-hour free parking slots on Wednesdays and Saturdays will no longer be available to non-residents.

This change follows the earlier removal of the VisitPass, which provided free parking codes for visitors. The municipality explains that the free parking scheme was actually against regional parking laws and therefore deemed illegal. Schaarbeek, like eleven other Brussels municipalities, manages parking through an agreement with Parking.brussels, the regional parking authority.

What does this mean for visitors and local drivers? Will the municipality challenge this decision, and what alternatives are available? Read on for the fast answer and further insights.

Why was the free parking scheme discontinued despite its popularity? The key issue lies in legal compliance and financial responsibility. The regional government views the free parking as an exceptional trial outside the legal framework. Meanwhile, the municipality faces potential costs nearing €900,000, which it argues should not be its sole burden. Key points include:

• The free parking was an illegal exception under regional law.
• Schaarbeek plans to contest the unilateral regional decision.
• Visitor cards offer affordable paid parking alternatives.
• The upcoming Brussels government may revisit parking policies.

As Schaarbeek prepares to address this issue with regional authorities, residents and visitors alike should stay informed on parking updates. Could this spark a broader reform of Brussels’ parking rules? Keep an eye on developments and consider using visitor cards to avoid fines while the situation evolves.