3 in 10 Belgian Sports Clubs to Raise Membership Fees Next Season
At least three out of ten Flemish sports clubs will increase their membership fees for the upcoming 2026-2027 season, according to a new survey by the Vlaamse Sportfederatie (Flemish Sports Federation). The average increase is expected to be around 10%, driven by soaring operational costs and a restrictive VAT threshold that is placing unprecedented financial pressure on volunteer-run clubs across Flanders.
Context: A Sector Under Financial Strain
The survey, which is the third annual edition of the federation’s “clubscan,” polled 816 sports clubs across all disciplines in Flanders. It reveals a widening gap between costs and revenues: club expenses have risen by approximately 20% over the past year, while revenues have grown by only 10%. More than six out of ten clubs report that they are urgently seeking additional financial resources to stay afloat.
According to VRT NWS, rising energy prices and high inflation — lingering effects of the energy crisis that began in 2022 — are the primary drivers of the financial pressure. Clubs are grappling with higher utility bills, equipment costs, and facility maintenance expenses, all while trying to keep membership affordable for their communities.
Key Developments: Fundraisers, Sponsors, and Fee Hikes
Pieter Hoof, General Director of the Vlaamse Sportfederatie, explained that clubs are exhausting every option before resorting to fee increases. “In the first instance, clubs seek those resources by organizing a ‘waffle sale’ or barbecue, but that of course also requires extra effort from volunteers,” Hoof told VRT NWS.
The survey found that 46.5% of clubs are organizing fundraising events such as waffle sales and barbecues to generate additional income. Meanwhile, the share of clubs dependent on sponsors has risen sharply — from 42% in 2025 to 48% in 2026 — the highest figure since the survey began three years ago.
“Almost half of the sports clubs indicate in our survey that they cannot survive without sponsor support. That is the highest figure since we launched our survey three years ago,” Hoof said.
Despite these efforts, 30% of clubs have confirmed they will raise membership fees next season, with another 30% still undecided. “Raising membership fees is the very last resort for many clubs. They only do that when all other options are exhausted,” Hoof emphasized.
The VAT Threshold: A Structural Challenge
A key structural issue compounding the financial strain is Belgium’s VAT threshold for sports clubs. Under current law, clubs that generate more than €25,000 in turnover from sources such as sponsorship, food and beverage sales, and ticket sales fall under the standard VAT regime for businesses. This triggers significant administrative obligations that are particularly burdensome for organizations run almost entirely by volunteers.
Membership fees themselves are not counted toward this threshold, which ironically incentivizes clubs to raise fees rather than pursue other revenue streams that would push them over the limit.
The federal government has committed to gradually raising the threshold to €30,000 by 2030. However, the federation argues that this is insufficient. “A step in the right direction, but taking inflation into account, that threshold should already be at nearly €33,000 today,” Hoof noted.
The Vlaamse Sportfederatie is calling for a more ambitious structural increase to €50,000 — a level already permitted under EU rules and implemented in several other member states. “Europe actually allows a higher threshold and other countries are already using it. We are therefore asking for a structural increase of that VAT ceiling for sports clubs to €50,000,” Hoof said.
Analysis: Implications for Accessibility and Volunteers
The financial pressures facing Flemish sports clubs carry significant implications beyond balance sheets. The federation has explicitly warned about ensuring “nobody falls by the wayside,” raising concerns that rising costs could make organized sports less accessible to lower-income families.
With approximately 1.46 million athletes across about 20,000 sports clubs in Flanders alone, even modest fee increases could affect hundreds of thousands of households. The average increase of 10% outpaces general inflation, adding to the cost-of-living pressures already faced by many Belgian families.
There is also a growing risk of volunteer burnout. Clubs are increasingly relying on volunteer efforts — organizing fundraisers, seeking sponsors, managing administrative burdens — to avoid raising fees. The federation warns that this situation is “unsustainable in the long term.”
What’s Next
The coming months will be critical for Flemish sports clubs and the families who depend on them. The federation’s call for a VAT threshold increase to €50,000 puts pressure on the federal government to accelerate or expand its planned reforms. With EU rules already permitting higher thresholds and other countries having adopted them, the policy question is now squarely on the political agenda.
For the 30% of clubs still undecided about fee increases, much will depend on whether additional support measures emerge — either from government policy or from increased sponsor and community backing. The federation’s survey results serve as a clear warning: without structural relief, the financial strain on Belgium’s grassroots sports sector will only intensify.