Dries Van Langenhove Fined €4,000 for KU Leuven Hate Speech

Leuven, Belgium — The Correctional Court of Leuven has fined far-right activist and former MP Dries Van Langenhove €4,000 for incitement to hatred during a controversial lecture at KU Leuven in early 2024. The court found Van Langenhove guilty of incitement to hatred based on nationality or ethnic origin and of disseminating ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred, while acquitting him on a charge of incitement to hatred based on gender, according to VRT NWS.

Context

The lecture, organized by the radical-right Flemish nationalist student association Nationalistische Studentenvereniging (NSV), took place at the Pedagogisch Instituut of KU Leuven in February 2024. The advertised topic was “regenerative agriculture,” but according to the Public Prosecution Service, the advertised subject was merely a pretext. “Only after about 45 minutes did the topic of regenerative agriculture come up, and only for a few minutes, after which Van Langenhove continued his political argument,” the prosecutor stated.

During the event, Van Langenhove spent considerable time discussing perceived differences between ethnic groups. He allegedly referred to “black Africans” multiple times as inferior to “white Flemings and Europeans” and characterized Roma women as thieves. Approximately 100 protesters gathered at the Ladeuzeplein in Leuven that evening, and a petition against his appearance gathered over 1,000 signatures, as VRT NWS reported.

Key Developments

KU Leuven responded swiftly, filing a criminal complaint against Van Langenhove on 29 February 2024. Rector Luc Sels stated at the time: “The reason for filing the complaint is that Dries Van Langenhove clearly made statements that could incite racism and that, for us, clearly go beyond the legal limits of freedom of expression,” as KU Leuven announced. The university also imposed a temporary ban on NSV using its facilities, which expired at the end of 2025. NSV was permitted to use KU Leuven premises again as of March 2026, VRT NWS confirmed.

In April 2026, the Public Prosecution Service demanded a €6,400 fine. The prosecutor characterized the lecture as having a “strong inciting character,” stating: “The whole had an inciting character and contributes to the spread of racist ideas and incitement to hatred and violence,” as PAL.be reported.

The court ultimately imposed a €4,000 fine — notably lower than the prosecution’s demand — and acquitted Van Langenhove on the gender-based charge, suggesting the court found insufficient evidence on that count.

Analysis

Van Langenhove’s defense argued that he had done nothing illegal. “If I am convicted, it is for expressing verifiable facts,” he stated before the verdict. After the ruling, he expressed disappointment, saying: “The Public Prosecution Service cannot demonstrate any punishable elements and yet a penalty is imposed. That shows laziness and lack of respect,” according to PAL.be.

The case sits at the intersection of Belgium’s anti-racism laws — specifically the 1981 Anti-Racism Law — and the constitutional right to freedom of expression. The conviction reinforces the legal boundaries of acceptable speech in Belgium, particularly regarding statements about ethnic groups. The court’s decision to impose a lower fine than demanded suggests a measured approach, while the acquittal on the gender-based charge indicates the court carefully weighed the evidence for each count.

Van Langenhove remains a polarizing figure in Belgian politics. Although no longer an MP — he resigned in February 2023, citing limited political impact — he maintains a significant online following through his “Kies Dries” media channel. This latest conviction adds to an extensive legal history, including the Schild & Vrienden case, in which he was initially sentenced to one year effective prison and a €16,000 fine in March 2024, later reduced on appeal in June 2025 to a suspended sentence and €1,600 fine.

What’s Next

It remains unclear whether Van Langenhove will appeal the €4,000 fine. The case highlights ongoing tensions in Belgium between free speech advocates and anti-racism campaigners, and raises questions about the balance universities must strike between academic freedom and preventing extremism on campus. With NSV now permitted to use KU Leuven facilities again, the university’s approach to future events organized by the student association will be closely watched.