Belgium’s Courthouses: Decay, Underfunding, Justice at Risk
Belgium’s courthouses are in a state of serious deterioration, with crumbling infrastructure, water damage, mold, and vermin infestations affecting judicial buildings across the country. The decay has become a powerful symbol of the broader crisis facing the Belgian justice system — a system that, according to VRT NWS, spends just over 0.22% of GDP on its judiciary, well below the European average of 0.3%.
A Monument to Neglect
The most visible symbol of this crisis is the iconic Palace of Justice in Brussels. Designed by architect Joseph Poelaert and completed in 1883, it was once the largest building in Europe — larger than St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Today, it has been shrouded in scaffolding for over 40 years.
Between 1984 and 2015, virtually no significant maintenance was carried out on the building. Since the early 1980s, debris has been falling from the domes, requiring safety scaffolding that has become a permanent fixture. The total cost of renovation is now estimated at over €600 million — approximately €100 million for the facade restoration and €480 million for the interior. The facade renovation, which began in October 2023, is not expected to be completed until 2030, with the full renovation projected to finish only by 2040.
Dirk Van Gerven, former head of the Brussels Bar and board member of the Poelaert Foundation, defended the price tag in an interview with VRT NWS, calling the building “a monument that is very important for Justice.” But he also described the working conditions inside: “People often work in rooms with mold, rats run around — that’s not normal working conditions.”
Chronic Underfunding
The courthouse crisis is one dimension of a multi-faceted problem. Belgium’s justice spending of 0.22% of GDP falls significantly below the European average. To reach the European median, an additional €443.5 million per year would be needed, according to figures cited by Brussels Morning.
In August 2024, three national judicial bodies — the College of Courts and Tribunals, the College of Public Prosecutors, and the Court of Cassation — jointly called for an immediate €100 million injection to address the underfunding. The memo warned that without increased investment, the independence, accessibility, and efficiency of the justice system would be compromised.
The staffing crisis is equally severe. To meet current caseloads, Belgium needs an immediate 26% increase in the number of judges and a 19% increase in court clerks. Judges and court staff currently work far more hours than legally permitted, contributing to burnout and declining morale.
A System Under Siege
The justice system’s struggles are compounded by immense pressure from international drug trafficking. The port of Antwerp is one of Europe’s main entry points for cocaine, with a record 121 tonnes seized in 2023. In an interview with The Guardian, Bart Willocx, president of the Antwerp Court of Appeal, warned that drug-related corruption poses a serious threat: “The amount of money that is involved — to influence people, to corrupt people and to bribe — it is so big that it is really a danger for the stability of our society.”
Guido Vermeiren, Prosecutor General for Antwerp and Limburg, echoed the concern: “We are becoming a state with a lot of corruption, with a lot of threats.” Belgian judges increasingly require safe houses and permanent protection, while courts lack basic security equipment such as bag scanners.
In June 2025, all 15 Public Prosecutors of Belgium sent an open letter to the federal government with a stark message: “Justice is exhausted.” The unprecedented joint action was followed by a protest at the Brussels Justice Palace on 27 June 2025, where 1,000 judges, prosecutors, and court staff gathered to demand action. As VRT NWS reported, Supreme Court chair Eric de Formanoir told the gathering: “We ask that resources be made available to execute all judgments.”
Government Response and a Glimmer of Hope
The federal government, led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever, has acknowledged the problem. In November 2025, the justice ministry pledged an extra €1 billion in spending by 2029. However, critics argue that this falls short of what is needed after decades of neglect.
A positive development came on 30 January 2026, with the official inauguration of a new modern courthouse in Namur. The building consolidates all judicial bodies under one roof, with modern, sustainable, and accessible facilities. Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden described it as a symbol of “modern justice: accessible, safe and efficient for litigants, magistrates and staff,” according to a government press release.
What’s Next
While the Namur courthouse offers a model for future modernization, the scale of the challenge remains daunting. The Palace of Justice renovation alone will take until 2040, and the broader issues of understaffing, security, and digitalization remain largely unaddressed. The “Five to Twelve” campaign, launched by Belgian judges to warn that the justice system is counting down to doomsday, continues to highlight the urgency of reform.
Whether the government’s €1 billion pledge will be sufficient — and whether it can be delivered quickly enough — remains an open question. What is clear is that Belgium’s courthouses, once symbols of the majesty of the law, now stand as monuments to a system in desperate need of renewal.