Flanders Bets on Van Hool Site as Industrial Land Crisis Deepens
The Flemish government has placed an unprecedented bid to purchase the former Van Hool industrial site in Koningshooikt — a 30-hectare property that officials describe as a rare strategic asset in a region where large-scale industrial land has all but vanished. The site is being sold via an online public auction on the Biddit platform, with bidding starting at €20 million and closing on June 16, 2026.
Minister-President Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) confirmed the bid in an interview with VRT NWS, framing the move as a direct response to a structural shortage that threatens Flanders’ industrial competitiveness. “We as the Flemish Government have decided to bid. There is a shortage of industrial sites, especially for large industry,” Diependaele said.
A Vanishing Resource
The bid must be understood against a stark backdrop: in the entire province of Antwerp — Belgium’s economic engine — only about 45 hectares of industrial land remain available, and it is fragmented across multiple sites. The Van Hool property represents a rare contiguous parcel suitable for heavy industry, making it what Diependaele called a “unique opportunity.”
Van Hool, the bus manufacturer that once employed over 3,500 people, was declared bankrupt on April 8, 2024, putting 2,400 people out of work. The company had purchased the land for expansion but never developed it before its collapse. The site has remained largely unused since, with parts temporarily leased to local farmers.
Government as Buyer
Diependaele acknowledged that the government is making an unusual move by directly entering a real estate auction. Normally, the state avoids purchasing and managing property. However, he justified the intervention as a matter of general interest. “The money comes from the Flemish economic portfolio. It is already budgeted, this is not extra money we need to find,” he told VRT NWS.
The government intends to develop the site for large-scale industry rather than small and medium enterprises. Potential sectors include pharmaceuticals, chemicals, high-tech chip manufacturing, and defense — industries where Belgium already has established clusters.
Mayor Rik Verwaest (N-VA) of Lier expressed strong support for the bid. “As far as we know, there are no other candidate buyers,” Verwaest said, adding that the city wants to avoid the site being bought by speculators who would leave it fallow for years. “Industrial sites become more expensive year after year. It would be a shame if a speculator buys the land and leaves it fallow for years.”
The Jobs Equation
Employers’ organization Voka Mechelen-Kempen has welcomed the government’s initiative. Spokesperson Wim Brillouet highlighted the economic multiplier effect: “Every extra job in industry creates three additional jobs in the broader economy.”
Voka’s studies indicate that a 15-hectare site can generate up to 8,600 jobs. With 30 hectares available, the potential impact is substantial — though the actual number depends on which industries ultimately locate there. The region is still recovering from the loss of 2,400 jobs when Van Hool collapsed.
Brillouet suggested that many manufacturing companies could establish themselves on the site. “Think pharma, chemicals, high-tech companies working with chips, or why not the defense sector,” he told Business AM, noting that in challenging geopolitical times, governments are increasingly thinking about strategic industrial interests.
Uncertain Outcome
Despite the enthusiasm, several uncertainties remain. The auction runs until June 16, and other bidders could still emerge. Diependaele refused to disclose the exact amount of the government’s bid for tactical reasons. Even if the bid succeeds, developing the site for new industries will take years.
About 550 people still work at adjacent parts of the site under new owners VDL Groep and Schmitz Cargobull, which took over Van Hool’s bus and industrial vehicle divisions after the bankruptcy. Their operations are expected to continue independently.
A Test of Industrial Policy
The online auction on Biddit will determine the outcome. If the Flemish government’s bid prevails, the next phase will involve preparing the land for commercial development and attracting private enterprises. The city of Lier and regional economic authorities are expected to play a key role in shaping the site’s future.
For a region still grappling with the loss of an industrial icon, the Van Hool site represents both a reminder of what was lost and a rare opportunity to rebuild. As RTV reported, the coming weeks will reveal whether the government’s gamble pays off — and whether Flanders can turn a bankrupt bus builder’s legacy into a new chapter of industrial renewal.