De Lijn Cuts 10% of Bus Routes for Special Needs Students

Flemish public transport company De Lijn is cutting up to 10 percent of its bus routes for students in special needs education, a move that schools, parents, and opposition politicians warn will disproportionately impact some of the region’s most vulnerable children. Approximately 204 out of 2,155 routes will be affected when the new school year begins in September 2026, according to VRT NWS.

Why the Cuts Are Happening

The cuts are driven by a strict budget cap imposed by Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA), who has ordered De Lijn to stay within its €139 million annual budget for student transport. The company has been overspending by approximately €11 million per year, drawing funds from regular bus services to cover the shortfall.

While the budget was doubled from €70 million to €139 million in the previous legislative term, the number of students in special needs education has grown 17 percent in a decade — from 47,895 to 56,036 students last school year. Rising costs and increasing demand have created a structural funding gap that the current budget cannot bridge.

What the Changes Mean for Students

De Lijn spokesperson Annelies Meynaerts confirmed that routes will be merged rather than simply eliminated, but acknowledged that students may face longer travel times and different routes. A norm agreed with former Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters states that students should not spend more than 90 minutes on the bus — yet 5 percent of routes already exceed this limit, and the cuts are expected to worsen the situation.

The company is also proposing central pickup points at locations such as neighborhood squares instead of door-to-door service, a move that school directors have strongly opposed.

“Children with a mental disability, with autism or with a behavioral disorder who have to wait on a market square — that will cause problems regardless,” said An De Coster, director of School De Vinderij in Lokeren. “As a school, we don’t see this working out.”

Sandra Simoens, director of De Wissel in Genk, questioned whether the specific needs of each child are being considered. “Is that student capable of getting to a pickup point? Are those parents available to walk with them?” she asked.

Political Infighting Amid a Crisis

The cuts have exposed a deepening political dispute between two ministers from the same party. Minister De Ridder (Mobility) and Minister of Education Zuhal Demir (N-VA) are locked in a disagreement over which department should bear responsibility for special needs student transport, as VRT NWS reported.

The coalition agreement had informally agreed to transfer responsibility from Mobility to Education, but Demir has resisted, citing insufficient budget allocation. Government sources suggest Demir is reluctant to take on a portfolio that places ministers “in a bad light.” The transfer is now targeted for the 2027-2028 school year.

Former Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters summed up the situation bluntly: “No one really wants the responsibility.”

A Shadow Cast by Tragedy

The cuts come just weeks after the fatal Buggenhout accident in May 2026, where a school bus transporting special needs students was hit by a train, resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. The tragedy intensified public scrutiny on student transport safety and exposed long-standing issues, including complaints about reckless driving by the bus driver involved.

Union representatives have warned that the cuts represent a dangerous step backward. “What is on the table here is unacceptable,” said Frank Moreels, chairman of BTB-ABVV, as reported by De Wereld Morgen. “They call this an efficiency exercise, but in reality it is a saving at the expense of children who already belong to the most vulnerable.”

Tight Timeline Adds Pressure

Schools received notice that De Lijn will only present a first draft of the new plans in early July 2026, leaving barely two months to finalize and communicate changes to parents before the September school year start. Directors have called this timeline unrealistic, particularly given the complexity of coordinating transport for students with diverse and often intensive needs.

“The challenges are quite large in getting students to school on time,” said Franciska Wildenboer of the Flemish Parents’ Council. “If they start missing class hours, that obviously affects their right to learn.”

What to Watch For

The coming weeks will be critical. De Lijn is expected to present its draft plans in early July, and the final schedule must be completed by the end of August. Opposition parties, including Anders and Vooruit, have called for the decision to be reconsidered, while the union warns of a “dangerous evolution” toward longer rides, less supervision, and increased pressure on drivers.

With the political responsibility transfer still a year away and no additional funding announced, the immediate question remains: how will Flanders ensure that its most vulnerable students can safely and reliably get to school?