Arlon Restores All-Night LED Streetlights to Boost Safety

The Belgian city of Arlon has decided to restore its public lighting seven nights a week, reversing the energy-saving measures implemented during the 2022 energy crisis. The change, set to take effect progressively from around July 1, 2026, is made possible by the conversion of 75% of the city’s streetlights to LED technology and the introduction of “dimming” — a 50% reduction in light intensity between 10 PM and 5 AM, according to RTBF.

Background: From Crisis to Reversal

During the peak of the energy crisis in 2022, Arlon — like most municipalities in Belgium’s Luxembourg province — cut public lighting from 10 PM to 5 AM on weeknights, keeping lights on only during weekend nights. This measure saved the city approximately €300,000 annually. In December 2022, at the request of police and the hospitality sector, several streets in the hypercenter were partially relit on weekends.

Now, nearly four years later, falling energy prices and the completion of a major LED conversion project have made all-night lighting economically viable again. As L’Avenir reports, 3,587 of the city’s 4,798 streetlights — or 75% — have been replaced with LEDs since 2020, dramatically reducing energy consumption per fixture.

The Dimming Solution

Anne Lamesch, Arlon’s Échevine (Alderman) of Environment and Energy, explained that the uniform all-night schedule enables a new energy-saving strategy. “Bringing the same lighting regime throughout the week will allow us to implement what we call dimming,” she told RTBF. This 50% intensity reduction between 10 PM and 5 AM is only possible under the “all-night, every night” tariff formula offered by ORES, the regional grid operator.

Lamesch emphasized that citizen demand drove the decision. “It’s not very reassuring to walk in the dark; many citizens wanted us to turn the lights back on,” she said. While police statistics show no increase in crime from the absence of nighttime lighting, the city prioritized residents’ feeling of safety and practical concerns like avoiding trip hazards.

Environmental Concerns

The decision has drawn criticism from environmental groups. Julie Luxon, Biodiversity Advisor at Natagora, warned that LED lighting — particularly its white spectrum — poses significant risks to biodiversity. “It’s really the white color that’s problematic,” she told RTBF. Each streetlight kills dozens of insects per night, while species like the brown long-eared bat find illuminated areas impassable — “like walls for them, they can no longer cross.”

White LED light also suppresses melatonin production in humans, affecting sleep quality. Natagora has long advocated for “dark corridors” (trames noires) to allow wildlife movement. While dimming reduces some negative effects, Luxon stated: “Dimming is better than nothing, but the best is truly to turn off.”

Lamesch acknowledged the trade-offs: “We weighed the pros and cons, took all elements into consideration, and decided that the energy savings from LEDs, the CO2 emission reductions, the more directional nature of the light, and citizens’ feeling of safety outweigh the negative effects, especially with dimming.”

A Broader Trend Across Wallonia

Arlon is not alone in reversing its energy-saving lighting policy. Since late 2025, numerous Walloon municipalities — including Waterloo, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Braine-l’Alleud, Genappe, Léglise, and Brunehaut — have announced the return of all-night public lighting, as DHnet reported in October 2025. The trend is driven by falling energy prices, completed LED conversions, citizen demands, and political considerations ahead of local elections.

What’s Next

As Arlon progressively restores all-night lighting from July 1, the city faces outstanding questions about the net environmental impact of its decision. Natagora continues to push for dark corridors in ecologically sensitive areas and recommends warmer-color LEDs with less blue light to mitigate biodiversity harm. The broader debate between perceived safety and environmental protection is likely to intensify as more municipalities across Belgium face similar choices.