Belgian Youth Groups Face Crisis Over Strict Fire Safety Rules
Hundreds of volunteer-run youth organizations across Flanders are facing a financial crisis as strict new fire safety regulations impose hotel-level standards on their rented accommodations, threatening to make traditional group trips and camps unaffordable. Since the Flemish Logiesdecreet (Accommodation Decree) came into effect in January 2023, youth groups that rent out their facilities for more than 60 days per year must meet the same fire safety requirements as hotels and holiday homes — a standard that many say is beyond their financial reach.
Background
Prior to 2023, youth accommodations in Flanders operated under the older “Toerisme voor Allen” (Tourism for All) decree, which had different, less stringent fire safety standards. The new Logiesdecreet harmonizes regulations across all types of tourist accommodations, bringing youth facilities under the same umbrella as commercial hotels for the first time. According to VRT NWS, approximately 600 youth accommodations are recognized by Toerisme Vlaanderen, with about 200 of those also serving as local meeting places for youth groups.
Transition periods vary depending on the expiry date of each facility’s previous fire safety certificate, with deadlines ranging from the end of 2025 to the end of 2027. For many groups, time is running out.
Required Upgrades and Costs
The new regulations mandate significant infrastructure improvements. Frederik Vercammen of the Centrum voor Jeugdtoerisme (CJT) explained on Radio 1’s “De Ochtend” that groups are now obliged to install fire alarm control panels, fire doors, door closers, and proper evacuation routes — requirements that were not necessary under the previous framework. The CJT provides detailed guidance on the four categories of fire safety standards, with the majority of youth accommodations falling into the most stringent category.
These upgrades come with a hefty price tag. Individual projects can cost €20,000 or more, and in some cases, investments can reach €100,000. The Flemish government does subsidize 60 percent of fire safety costs — up to a maximum of €150,000 — but youth groups must cover the remaining 40 percent themselves. As Vercammen noted, on a project of roughly €20,000, that still leaves groups needing to find €8,000.
Financial Strain on Volunteer Organizations
For youth organizations that rely on modest fundraising activities like waffle sales and soup sales, raising thousands of euros is a daunting challenge. The scale of the problem was captured vividly by Gazet van Antwerpen, which quoted a youth leader saying: “For an investment of 100,000 euros you have to sell a lot of sausages.”
Marij Germijns, spokesperson for Chirojeugd Vlaanderen, told VRT NWS that the regulations present a particular challenge because youth group premises are often outdated and organizations have limited financial resources. A major 2023 survey of nearly 850 youth groups across Flanders, reported by VRT NWS, found that over half have roofs, walls, or floors in poor condition, one in three have unsafe electrical systems, and more than one in three report inadequate fire safety.
Impact on Youth Activities
Many youth groups depend on rental income from their premises to fund their regular activities and summer camps. If they cannot afford the required upgrades, they risk losing this crucial revenue stream. The inter-group rental ecosystem — where one youth group rents its facilities to another for weekends and camps — is a “beautiful exchange” that could be disrupted, according to Germijns.
“For Chiro groups, it’s an easy way to generate extra income for their daily operations, but also for the summer camp, for example,” she said. “It’s nice that groups can rely on each other for their weekends or camps.”
Government Response
The Flemish government has invested significantly in youth infrastructure, allocating €21 million during the previous legislative period — triple the amount of the period before. The Toerisme Vlaanderen subsidies page notes that a new subsidy framework from 2026 will allocate €15.75 million over three years for investments in fire safety, energy savings, and modernization. However, critics point out that awareness of available subsidies remains low among volunteer-run organizations, and the application process can be daunting.
What’s Next
With the first compliance deadlines already passed and the final deadline set for the end of 2027, youth organizations across Flanders are racing against time. The coming months will reveal whether the Flemish government responds with additional support or adjusted timelines, or whether some youth groups will be forced to make difficult choices about their future — including potentially closing their doors entirely. The core question remains: how to implement important safety standards without inadvertently harming the volunteer-led organizations that provide essential social infrastructure for young people across the region.